Mahbobeh Rahmani - Student Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran.
Fatemeh Mohammad Zadeh - Student Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran
Ali Delshad - Student Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran
Raheleh Baradaran - Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Maryam Mohammadi - Department of Public Health, School of Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Vahid Arabvazife - Student Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran
Shabnam Mohammadi - Neurogenic Inflammation Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Hossein Talebzadeh - Student Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran

Background: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine and its efficacy is different from that of conventional medicine. Objectives: Owing to the growing use of CAM in our country, the aim of this study was to evaluate the level of awareness, attitude, and performance of employees in Gonabad, ۲۰۱۴. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in ۲۰۱۴ conducted in Gonabad healthcare center with ۲۳۷ workers (۱۲۲ male and ۱۱۵ female) and with a mean age of ۳۱.۵۷±۸.۳۴. A questionnaire was used for data collection. Data was analysed using SPSS software. Results: The results were considered significant when P value was less than ۰.۰۵. The level of staff knowledge was low (۲۱.۰۸ ± ۶.۶۱), but ۹۴.۱% of the staff had positive attitude and more than ۶۰% of them had a good performance level. As many as ۵.۱% had experience of traditional medicine courses, while ۵۳.۲% had experience of using a CAM for treatment. As many as ۵۶.۱۱% said that traditional medicine had been useful in their treatment. The most used method was the use of herbal medicine (۴۸.۳%), while the least used methods were meditation, hypnosis, traditional bath, and aromatherapy. As many as ۶۵% of employees would recommend to others different methods of traditional medicine, and ۹۰.۷% knew the necessity of allocating traditional medicine course. Conclusion: According to the findings,Gonabadhealth carestaff have a low level of knowledge, but a good attitude and practice of CAM are necessary through workshops to raise awareness of the CAM.

Attitude, complementary and alternative medicine, Knowledge, Practice, staff