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Published on: November 9, 2016
Use of complementary and alternative medicine by patients presenting to a Paediatric Emergency Department
Tycho Jan Zuzak1, Isabelle Zuzak-Siegrist, Ana Paula Simões-Wüst
1University Children's Hospital, Steinwiesstrasse 75, 8032, Zurich, Switzerland. tycho.zuzak@kispi.uzh.ch
Insights
Many parents use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for children in emergency departments, often without consulting doctors. This highlights a need for healthcare providers to discuss CAM openly with families.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)
- Public Health
Background:
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) use is increasing, yet data on its application in pediatric emergency settings remains limited.
- Understanding CAM utilization patterns in children presenting to emergency departments is crucial for comprehensive patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among pediatric patients in an urban, tertiary Emergency Department.
- To identify factors associated with CAM use and understand parental expectations regarding CAM in pediatric emergency care.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 1143 parents of children presenting to a pediatric Emergency Department.
- Data collected included demographics, reasons for visit, and details of CAM therapy use, including physician prescription and discussion with healthcare providers.
Main Results:
- Over half of the surveyed children (58%) had received some form of CAM, with 25% using it for their current illness.
- CAM use was frequently self-medicated (50%) and often not prescribed by a physician (nearly two-thirds).
- Parents of CAM users were older, more likely Swiss-born, and had higher educational attainment.
Conclusions:
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is commonly used by pediatric patients in emergency departments, often without physician involvement.
- Parents desire open communication with medical professionals about CAM and expect healthcare providers to be knowledgeable about its effects and side-effects.
- There is a significant gap between parental CAM use and physician awareness/involvement, necessitating better integration of CAM discussions into pediatric emergency care.
Abstract:
Although the popularity of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has risen in the last decade, information about its use by paediatric patients presenting to an Emergency Department is still sparse. We report here the results of a cross-sectional survey of paediatric patients presenting to an urban, tertiary paediatric Emergency Department between October 2006 and March 2007. In total, 1143 questionnaires (68% of those distributed) were completed and available for analysis. Of these, 58% (n = 665) of all respondents admitted that their child had received some form of CAM therapy, while 25% (n = 291) admitted that their child was receiving CAM for the present illness. In 31% of the respondents (n = 354), CAM had been prescribed by a physician, while 50% (n = 575) used CAM as self-medication. Patients presented to the Emergency Department mostly because of an infection (42% of total; 29% of these used CAM) or a trauma (38% of total; 19% of these used CAM). Parents of CAM-users were significantly older, more often born in Switzerland and had significantly higher school education than those of the non-users. Nearly two-thirds of the administered CAM therapies were not prescribed by a physician, and 50% of the families using CAM did not discuss this with their general practitioner. Parental requirements implied that medical professionals on a paediatric Emergency Department should know the effects and side-effects of CAM therapies and even be able to recommend them. The study population, even trauma patients, frequently used CAM. The use of CAM is characterised by a high rate of self-medication and the exclusion of the physicians from the decision-making process. The parents of paediatric patients frequently demand that CAM be considered as a possible treatment option and wish to have an open discussion with the medical professionals on this topic.