Complementary and alternative medicine use among children in the Washington, DC area

Citation
Mc. Ottolini et al., Complementary and alternative medicine use among children in the Washington, DC area, AMBU PEDIAT, 1(2), 2001, pp. 122-125
Citations number
18
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Pediatrics
Journal title
AMBULATORY PEDIATRICS
ISSN journal
1530-1567 → ACNP
Volume
1
Issue
2
Year of publication
2001
Pages
122 - 125
Database
ISI
SICI code
1530-1567(200103/04)1:2<122:CAAMUA>2.0.ZU;2-U
Abstract
Objective.- To determine the prevalence and reasons for complementary and a lternative medicine (CAM) use among children in primary pediatric care prac tice in the Washington, DC area. Design.- Cross-sectional survey of parents at 4 Children's National Medical Center Pediatric Research Network (PRN) practices from July 1998 through N ovember 1998. Survey information included demographics, child health proble ms, satisfaction with health care, and CAM use over the past year. Results.- Parents completed 348 surveys. Forty percent (138) of parents wer e CAM users themselves, whereas 21% (72) had treated their child with CAM o ver the past year. Factors positively associated with child CAM use include d parents' use of CAM (P < .0001); greater parent age (P = .0005); greater child age (P = .001); and complaints of frequent respiratory illnesses, ast hma, headaches, and nosebleeds. Ethnicity and parental education were not a ssociated with child CAM use. Over 50% of pediatric CAM users reported spec ific vitamin supplementation, whereas 25% used other nutritional supplement s or elimination diets, and over 40% used herbal therapies. Thirty-two perc ent of CAM users had visited a CAM practitioner; 81% of pediatric CAM users would have liked to discuss it with their pediatrician, but only 36% did s o. Conclusion.- Treatment of children with CAM is common and is frequently und ertaken by parents without the knowledge or advice of their pediatrician.