Point Prevalence of Complementary or Alternative Medicine Use among Children Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital
Background: Complementary or alternative medicine (CAM) describes products/practices outside conventional medical care. CAM may be used to support or replace conventional/prescribed therapies. The aim of this study was to determine patterns of CAM use among children attending a tertiary care hospita...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Children |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/10/1/132 |
| _version_ | 1797444222689738752 |
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| author | Angharad Vernon-Roberts Abida Denny Andrew S. Day |
| author_facet | Angharad Vernon-Roberts Abida Denny Andrew S. Day |
| author_sort | Angharad Vernon-Roberts |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Complementary or alternative medicine (CAM) describes products/practices outside conventional medical care. CAM may be used to support or replace conventional/prescribed therapies. The aim of this study was to determine patterns of CAM use among children attending a tertiary care hospital in New Zealand (NZ) and measure parental opinion about CAM. Methods: Prospective survey-based study among children and their parents attending inpatient and outpatient clinical areas. Surveys collected demographic and health variables, current CAM use, and parental opinions on CAM. Results: Of the 236 children participating: 41% female, mean age 6.8 years (SD5), 76 (32%) with a chronic illness. CAM was used by 132 (56%) children, the most common being: oral supplements, body manipulation methods, or holistic practices. CAM use was associated with lower child health rating (<i>p</i> = 0.001), Māori ethnicity (<i>p</i> = 0.03), parent education level (<i>p</i> = 0.002), and family member CAM use (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Opinion survey results revealed CAM use was most strongly related to doctors recommending CAM, information on CAM, and CAM cost. There was a 31% CAM disclosure rate to the child’s medical team. Conclusions: This study highlights cultural differences in CAM use not previously reported among children in NZ. Parental opinion regarding CAM influences use for their child and disclosure rates. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:08:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-499a4415528f4a10a5bde8f889d32a7f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:08:32Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Children |
| spelling | doaj.art-499a4415528f4a10a5bde8f889d32a7f2023-11-30T21:44:13ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672023-01-0110113210.3390/children10010132Point Prevalence of Complementary or Alternative Medicine Use among Children Attending a Tertiary Care HospitalAngharad Vernon-Roberts0Abida Denny1Andrew S. Day2Department of Paediatrics, University of Otago, Christchurch 8011, New ZealandDepartment of Paediatrics, University of Otago, Christchurch 8011, New ZealandDepartment of Paediatrics, University of Otago, Christchurch 8011, New ZealandBackground: Complementary or alternative medicine (CAM) describes products/practices outside conventional medical care. CAM may be used to support or replace conventional/prescribed therapies. The aim of this study was to determine patterns of CAM use among children attending a tertiary care hospital in New Zealand (NZ) and measure parental opinion about CAM. Methods: Prospective survey-based study among children and their parents attending inpatient and outpatient clinical areas. Surveys collected demographic and health variables, current CAM use, and parental opinions on CAM. Results: Of the 236 children participating: 41% female, mean age 6.8 years (SD5), 76 (32%) with a chronic illness. CAM was used by 132 (56%) children, the most common being: oral supplements, body manipulation methods, or holistic practices. CAM use was associated with lower child health rating (<i>p</i> = 0.001), Māori ethnicity (<i>p</i> = 0.03), parent education level (<i>p</i> = 0.002), and family member CAM use (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Opinion survey results revealed CAM use was most strongly related to doctors recommending CAM, information on CAM, and CAM cost. There was a 31% CAM disclosure rate to the child’s medical team. Conclusions: This study highlights cultural differences in CAM use not previously reported among children in NZ. Parental opinion regarding CAM influences use for their child and disclosure rates.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/10/1/132CAMprevalencedisclosurehomeopathyholisticspiritual |
| spellingShingle | Angharad Vernon-Roberts Abida Denny Andrew S. Day Point Prevalence of Complementary or Alternative Medicine Use among Children Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital Children CAM prevalence disclosure homeopathy holistic spiritual |
| title | Point Prevalence of Complementary or Alternative Medicine Use among Children Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital |
| title_full | Point Prevalence of Complementary or Alternative Medicine Use among Children Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital |
| title_fullStr | Point Prevalence of Complementary or Alternative Medicine Use among Children Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital |
| title_full_unstemmed | Point Prevalence of Complementary or Alternative Medicine Use among Children Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital |
| title_short | Point Prevalence of Complementary or Alternative Medicine Use among Children Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital |
| title_sort | point prevalence of complementary or alternative medicine use among children attending a tertiary care hospital |
| topic | CAM prevalence disclosure homeopathy holistic spiritual |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/10/1/132 |
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