Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International LicenseJames, Peter BaiWardle, JonSteel, AmieAdams, JonBah, Abdulai JawoSevalie, Stephen2021-05-102021-05-102020-05-062019-11-19James, P.B., Wardle, J., Steel, A., Adams, J., Bah, A.J. and Sevalie, S. (2020) ‘Traditional and complementary medicine use among Ebola survivors in Sierra Leone: a qualitative exploratory study of the perspectives of healthcare workers providing care to Ebola survivors’, BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, 20(1), p. 137. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-020-02931-6.2662-7671https://eresearch.qmu.ac.uk/handle/20.500.12289/11246https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-020-02931-6From Springer Nature via Jisc Publications RouterBackground: Considerable number of patients, including Ebola survivors, in Sierra Leone, are using traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM). Healthcare providers’ (HCPs) views about T&CM is crucial in addressing the increased need for T&CM among patients. However, healthcare providers’ views about T&CM in Sierra Leone is unknown. Our study explores healthcare providers’ knowledge of and perception towards T&CM and how that influence their personal and professional T&CM use, communication with Ebola survivors about T&CM as well as its integration into the healthcare system in Sierra Leone. Methods: We employed a qualitative exploratory study design using semi-structured interviews to collect data from 15 conveniently sampled HCPs in all four geographical regions of Sierra Leone. We analysed our data using thematic network analysis framework. Results: Healthcare providers perceived their knowledge about T&CM to be low and considered T&CM to be less effective and less safe than conventional medicine as well as not evidence-based. HCPs perception of T&CM as non-scientific and their lack of knowledge of T&CM were the key barriers to HCPs’ self-use and recommendation as well as their lack of detailed discussion about T&CM with Ebola survivors. HCPs are open to T&CM integration into mainstream healthcare in Sierra Leone although at their terms. However, they believe that T&CM integration could be enhanced by effective professional regulation of T&CM practice, and by improving T&CM evidenced-based knowledge through education, training and research. Conclusion: Changing HCPs’ negative perception of and increasing their knowledge about T&CM is critical to promoting effective communication with Ebola survivors regarding T&CM and its integration into the healthcare system in Sierra Leone. Strategies such as educational interventions for HCPs, conducting rigorous T&CM research, proper education and training of T&CM practitioners and effective professional regulation of T&CM practice could help in that direction.http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Research ArticlePatterns of use, knowledge and attitudesEbolaEbola SurvivorsHealth PersonnelTraditional MedicineComplementary TherapiesPerceptionAttitudeCommunicationIntegrationSierra LeoneArticle2021-05-06