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Use of complementary medicine in pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease: results from a multicenter
Anthony P Wong1, Ann L Clark, Elizabeth A Garnett
1Department of Pediatrics and Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143-0136, USA.
Insights
Children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are twice as likely to use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) compared to those with chronic constipation. CAM use in IBD patients is common, with spiritual interventions and nutritional supplements being most popular.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Integrative Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is prevalent among pediatric patients with chronic gastrointestinal disorders.
- Understanding CAM utilization patterns is crucial for comprehensive patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine and compare the use of CAM in pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) versus those with chronic constipation.
- To identify factors associated with CAM use in pediatric IBD patients.
Main Methods:
- A survey study was conducted across three US pediatric medical centers between 2001 and 2003.
- Data were collected from pediatric patients with IBD and a comparison group with chronic constipation.
- Statistical analyses included t tests and exact tests of contingency tables.
Main Results:
- CAM therapies were used by 50% of pediatric IBD patients and 23% of those with chronic constipation.
- Spiritual interventions and nutritional supplements were the most common CAM therapies among IBD patients.
- Positive predictors for CAM use in IBD included self-reported health, increased medication side effects, white ethnicity, and higher parental education.
Conclusions:
- CAM use is significantly more common in pediatric patients with IBD compared to those with chronic constipation.
- Regional variations in CAM therapy types were observed, though overall use did not differ by region.
- Healthcare providers should be aware that approximately half of pediatric IBD patients may use CAM and identify predictors to guide discussions.
Objectives:
We examined the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) at 3 US pediatric medical centers, comparing a group of children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with children presenting with chronic constipation.
Materials And Methods:
Surveys were administered by postal mail and at pediatric IBD centers in San Francisco, Houston, and Atlanta from 2001 to 2003. A comparison group consisting of pediatric patients with chronic constipation also was surveyed. Data were analyzed by t tests and by exact tests of contingency tables.
Results:
In all, 236 surveys were collected from the IBD group; 126 surveys were collected from the chronic constipation comparison group. CAM therapies were used by 50% in the IBD group and 23% in the chronic constipation group. The overall regional breakdown of CAM use in IBD revealed no differences, although the types of CAM therapy used varied by site. The most commonly used CAM therapies in the IBD group were spiritual interventions (25%) and nutritional supplements (25%). Positive predictors for CAM use in IBD include the patient's self-reported overall health, an increase in the number of side effects associated with allopathic medications, white ethnicity, and parental education beyond high school.
Conclusions:
This is the first US study to characterize CAM use in pediatric patients with IBD with another chronic gastrointestinal disorder. CAM use was twice as common with the IBD group compared with the chronic constipation group. Regional variations exist with the types of CAM therapy used. Practitioners should know that half of their pediatric patients with IBD may be using CAM in conjunction with or as an alternative to other treatments and that certain predictors can help identify those using CAM therapies.
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