Survey of complementary and alternative medicine in pediatric inpatient settings

While use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is common in children, we know little about its use for hospitalized children. This survey measured the rate of CAM use, specific modalities used, and policies related to CAM use for hospitalized children.

Anonymous survey of hospitals in the Pediatric Research in Inpatient Settings (PRĪS) network SETTING: Hospitals in the PRĪS network.

Rate of overall and specific CAM modality use, including whether these modalities are provided, permitted, or prohibited, and presence of a written policy on CAM use.

Of 99 sites queried, 22 responded. Of these, 82% of sites reported some CAM presence, and 63% reported official provision of CAM therapies. Freestanding children's hospitals provided more modalities than other types of hospitals. There was no difference in number of modalities by geographic location. The most commonly provided CAM modalities were massage and biofield therapies. The most commonly prohibited modalities were inpatient placebos outside of research settings, medical marijuana, and inpatient homeopathic preparations. Only one site reported having a written policy on CAM use.

Among responding institutions, the most reported some CAM presence with a wide variety of CAM modalities provided and permitted. Written institutional policies on CAM were rare.