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Survey of complementary and alternative medicine use at a tertiary children's hospital
Alissa Lim1, Noel Cranswick, Susan Skull
1Department of General Medicine, University of Melbourne, and Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. alissa.lim@rch.org.au
Insights
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is common in Australian children, with over half reporting usage. Many children do not discuss CAM therapies with their doctors, highlighting a need for open communication.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Integrative Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is prevalent in the general Australian population.
- Understanding CAM usage patterns in pediatric populations is crucial for comprehensive healthcare.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence and patterns of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) usage among children.
- To investigate the types of CAM used and reasons for their use in a pediatric cohort.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 503 children at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne.
- Face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire assessed CAM use in the preceding year.
Main Results:
- 51% of children reported using CAM in the past year, with 43% using CAM medications (multivitamins, vitamin C, herbal remedies, homeopathy).
- Non-medicinal CAM use (chiropractic, naturopathy, aromatherapy, massage, dietary restriction) was reported by 23%.
- Common reasons for CAM use included general health promotion and cold treatment; 63% did not discuss CAM use with their doctor.
Conclusions:
- Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is common among children, particularly for prevalent childhood illnesses.
- The lack of communication between patients and physicians regarding CAM use poses potential risks.
- Healthcare providers should routinely inquire about CAM usage to ensure integrated and safe patient care.
Objective:
The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) within the Australian community is common. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and pattern of CAM usage in children attending a tertiary children's hospital.
Methods:
We conducted a cross-sectional survey of children attending the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne. Children were identified by consecutive acute admissions and attendance at outpatient clinics. A structured questionnaire with items about the use of CAM in the preceding year was administered by means of a face-to-face interview.
Results:
Based on the 503 children surveyed, 51% reported CAM use in the preceding year. Forty-three percent had used at least one CAM medication. The most common medicinal CAM used were multivitamins, vitamin C, herbal remedies and homeopathic treatments. Non-medicinal CAM was used by 23% of the participants. The most commonly used therapies were chiropractic, naturopathy, aromatherapy, therapeutic massage and dietary restriction. The main reasons stated for CAM usage included promotion of general health and treatment of colds. Sixty-three percent of those reporting CAM use had not discussed this with their treating doctor.
Conclusion:
The use of CAM by children is common. Complementary and alternative medicine is particularly used for the treatment of common illnesses and conditions of childhood. Importantly, use is not always conveyed to treating physicians. Given the potential risk of adverse events associated with the use of CAM or interactions with conventional management, doctors should ask about their use as a part of routine history taking.