A cross-sectional survey of complementary and alternative medicine use by children and adolescents attending the University Hospital of Wales

Abstract

BackgroundA high prevalence of CAM use has been documented worldwide in children and adolescents with chronic illnesses. Only a small number of studies, however, have been conducted in the United Kingdom. The primary aim of this study was to examine the use of CAM by children and adolescents with a wide spectrum of acute and chronic medical problems in a tertiary children's hospital in Wales.MethodsStructured personal interviews of 100 inpatients and 400 outpatients were conducted over a 2-month period in 2004. The yearly and monthly prevalence of CAM use were assessed and divided into medicinal and non-medicinal therapies. This use was correlated with socio-demographic factors.ResultsThere were 580 patients approached to attain 500 completed questionnaires. The use of at least one type of CAM in the past year was 41% (95% CI 37–46%) and past month 26% (95% CI 23–30%). The yearly prevalence of medicinal CAM was 38% and non-medicinal 12%. The users were more likely to have parents that were tertiary educated (mother: OR = 2.3, 95%CI 1.6–3.3) and a higher family income (Pearson chi-square for trend = 14.3, p < 0.001). The most common medicinal types of CAM were non-prescribed vitamins and minerals (23%) and herbal therapies (10%). Aromatherapy (5%) and reflexology (3%) were the most prevalent non-medicinal CAMs.None of the inpatient medical records documented CAM use in the past month. Fifty-two percent of medicinal and 38% of non-medicinal CAM users felt their doctor did not need to know about CAM use. Sixty-six percent of CAM users did not disclose the fact to their doctor. Three percent of all participants were using herbs and prescription medicines concurrently.ConclusionThere is a high prevalence of CAM use in our study population. Paediatricians need to ensure that they ask parents and older children about their CAM usage and advise caution with regard to potential interactions.CAM is a rapidly expanding industry that requires further evidence-based research to provide more information on the effectiveness and safety of many CAM therapies. Statutory or self-regulation of the different segments of the industry is important. Integration of CAM with allopathic western medicine through education and better communication is slowly progressing.

Herbal products: a survey of students&#8217; perception and knowledge about their medicinal use

“…11 Similarly, poor communication between patients and health care professionals regarding herbal product use was also reported by other studies. 14,19,20 Respondents using herbal medicines without informing the treating physician may have to bear the brunt of serious clinical implications due to the possible herb-drug interactions. It has been found that herbal products interact or interfere with the normal pharmacology of some drugs with potentially fatal consequences.…”

Don't Ask, Don't Tell: Parental Nondisclosure of Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Over-the-Counter Medication Use in Children's Asthma Management

“…Prior research on CAM use in asthma showed fairly high prevalence rates of CAM use among children (Braganza, Ozuah, & Sharif, 2003;Crawford, Cincotta, Lim, & Powell, 2006;Mazur, DeYbarrondo, Miller, & Colasurdo, 2001;Reznik, Ozuah, Franco, Cohen, & Motlow, 2002;Shenfield, Lim, & Allen, 2002) yet the results of studies on CAM therapies do not generally support their efficacy in treating asthma (Angsten, 2000;Bielory, 2004;Bielory, Russin, & Zuckerman, 2004;Blazek-O'Neill, 2005;Gardnier & Wornham, 2000;Graham & Blaiss, 2000;Gyorik & Brutsche, 2004;Heimall & Bielory, 2004;Markham & Wilkinson, 2004). CAM prevalence rates (lifetime and current) among children with asthma range from 52% to 89% (Braganza et al; Mazur et al; Reznik et al; Shenfield et al).…”

“…In the general pediatric population, studies show that the majority of parents do not disclose CAM use to their child's HCP (Cala, Crismon, & Baumgartner, 2003;Crawford et al, 2006;Heuschkel et al, 2002;Lanski, Greenwald, Perkins, & Simon, 2003;Madsen et al, 2003;Ottolini et al, 2001;Pitetti, Singh, Hornyak, Garcia, & Herr, 2001;Sawni-Sikand, Schubiner, & Thomas, 2002;Spigelblatt & Laine-Ammara, 1994;Wilson & Klein, 2002). The most frequently reported barriers to CAM disclosure, among the general population as well as families with children, were a feeling that the HCP did not need to know about CAM use, fear of a negative response from the HCP, and the HCP did not ask (Prussing, Sobo, Walker, Dennis, & Kurtin, 2004;Robinson & McGrail, 2004;Shaw, Thompson, & Sharp, 2006).…”

High use of complementary and alternative medication among children with autism is not associated with the severity of core symptoms

“…International studies estimate the prevalence of CAM use in the paediatric ASD population to be between 35% and 95% [9,15,17], which compares with rates of between 10% and 30% amongst children in the general population [18][19][20][21]. Studies have reported a variety of CAM used by children with ASD, with the most commonly reported being biologicallybased products such as dietary supplements, vitamins, minerals, natural and herbal remedies [22,23].…”