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Published on: July 31, 2017
Parents' Use of Complementary Health Approaches for Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Olivia J Lindly1,2, Sheryl Thorburn3, Karen Heisler4
1Department of General Academic Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children and Harvard Medical School, 125 Nashua Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA. olindly@mgh.harvard.edu.
Abstract:
Knowledge of why parents use complementary health approaches (CHA) for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is limited. We conducted a mixed methods study to better understand factors influencing parents' decision to use CHA for ASD. Parent-reported data about CHA use were collected on a probability sample of 352 young children with ASD in Denver, Colorado; Los Angeles, California; or Portland, Oregon. Follow-back interviews were conducted with 31 parents. CHA use was negatively associated with older child age and positively associated with parents' belief ASD has major consequences, living in Portland or Denver, and medication use. Nine themes help explain these results. Study findings may have utility for healthcare providers working with children with ASD and their families regarding CHA.
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