Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use in Modern Obstetrics: A Survey of the Central Association of Obstetricians & Gynecologists Members

Abstract

The use of complementary and alternative medicine during pregnancy is currently on the rise. A validated survey was conducted at the Central Association of Obstetrician and Gynecologists annual meeting to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice of general obstetricians and gynecologists and maternal-fetal medicine specialists in America. We obtained 128 responses: 73 electronically (57%) and 55 via the paper survey (43%). Forty-five percent reported personally using complementary and alternative medicine and 9% of women respondents used complementary and alternative medicine during pregnancy. Overall, 62% had advised their patients to utilize some form of complementary and alternative medicine in pregnancy. Biofeedback, massage therapy, meditation, and yoga were considered the most effective modalities in pregnancy (median [semi-interquartile range] = 2 [0.5]). Maternal-fetal medicine specialists were significantly more likely to disagree on the use of complementary and alternative medicine for risk reduction of preterm birth compared to obstetricians and gynecologists (P = .03). As the use of complementary and alternative medicine continues to rise in reproductive-age women, obstetricians will play an integral role in incorporating complementary and alternative medicine use with conventional medicine.

Using a Survey to Characterize Rehabilitation Professionals' Perceptions and Use of Complementary, Integrative, and Alternative Medicine

“…Reflecting the multidisciplinary nature of ACRM members, the scope was broadened to include a wider range of rehabilitation professionals. [2][3][4][5] The survey inquired about members' perceptions and attitudes, knowledge, utilization, and involvement in CIAM approaches and research. The authors were interested in respondents' demographic information, their perceptions of CIAM, and their current knowledge and ideas about CIAM.…”

Pregnancy-Related Stress Among Pregnant Women Receiving Tocolytic and Non-Tocolytic Treatments Where Both Used Complementary Medicine

“…Alternative medicines such as traditional Chinese medicine and naturopathy are slow-acting but can improve chronic diseases ( Chiang, 2014 ; Pallivalappila et al, 2014 ; Mitchell, 2016 ). A 2008 survey involving obstetricians from the American Medical Association considered biofeedback, chiropractic care, acupuncture, and meditation as highly effective complementary medicine treatments ( Babbar et al, 2017 ). Natural products emphasize that the human body itself has natural healing capabilities and that natural substances, such as natural herbs, high doses of vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, probiotics, Lingzhi mushroom, shark cartilage, and cod liver oil, can be used to prevent diseases ( Holst et al, 2009 ).…”

Acceptance and use of complementary and alternative medicine among medical specialists: a 15-year systematic review and data synthesis

“…Although patients are highly satisfied with CAM treatment, professional health care providers who are medical doctors do not offer CAM because it is not part of the standard conventional medical care. Although the majority of physicians who have used CAM were pleased with the results [ 4 – 8 ] and were more likely to recommend it to patients, friends, and family [ 9 , 10 ] as a non-toxic treatment option; less than one third of the medical doctors were very comfortable in answering questions about CAM [ 9 , 11 – 13 ] so patients who do not have the option to use CAM instead of standard medical care might be lost to follow-up. Some doctors are still skeptical of CAM because of a lack of specific knowledge and qualification as well as a lack of evidence from high-quality experimental studies on the efficacy of the CAM treatments [ 4 , 12 , 14 , 15 ].…”