Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine by Children in the United States

Abstract

The use of CAM among US children, as measured by the MEPS, is far less prevalent than has previously been asserted. With such disparate estimates, future CAM research efforts would benefit from a consensus regarding what practices constitute CAM and how these practices should be measured.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use in Children With Cancer and General and Specialty Pediatrics

“…Although some of the parents in this study were fathers, women's use of CAM is a strong indicator of their family's use of CAM (Institute of Medicine, 2005). This finding is consistent throughout other studies (Davis & Darden, 2003;Davis, Meaney, & Duncan, 2005;Gomez-Martinez et al, 2007;Ottolini et al, 2001;Sanders et al, 2003;Wilson & Klein, 2002). With the trend for increased use of CAM in the general population of adults, CAM use is expected to increase in children over time.…”

Complementary and alternative medicine use in adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease and juvenile idiopathic arthritis

“…In North America, CAM use among both paediatric IBD [22-24] and JIA patients [16,26-29] is considerably more common than among healthy children ([32]. The most commonly reported forms of CAM use among children with IBD included proiotics, fish oils, herbs, dietary modifications and megavitamin therapy, all of which are well in line with our findings.…”

Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine by Males With Duchenne or Becker Muscular Dystrophy

“…The proportion of reported complementary and alternative medicine use observed in this study was higher than has been reported for the general pediatric population, 5,7,9 and in children with neuromuscular disorders in general, 13 and muscular dystrophy in particular. 13,14 Similarly, the proportion of use in this population was higher than what has been reported for adults with neurologic disorders 18 or functional disabilities.…”