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Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use in Children with a Developmental Disability and Co-occurring Medical
Corina R Zisman1, Marisa A Patti2, Luther G Kalb3
1Section on the Neurobiology of Fear and Anxiety, National Institute of Mental Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD, 20892, United States.
Insights
Children with developmental disabilities (DD) are more likely to use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Those with additional chronic conditions show even higher CAM usage, highlighting a need for clinical awareness.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine Research
- Developmental Disabilities Epidemiology
Background:
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) use is prevalent in pediatric populations.
- Understanding CAM usage patterns in children with developmental disabilities (DD) is crucial for informed healthcare.
- Limited data exist on the specific prevalence of CAM among children with DD and comorbid conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the prevalence of CAM usage in children with and without developmental disabilities (DD).
- To investigate the association between CAM usage and chronic medical conditions in children with DD.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of the 2012 National Health Interview Survey's Child Complementary and Alternative Medicine Supplement.
- Inclusion of a nationally representative sample of US children aged 4-17 (n=10,218).
- Utilization of multiple logistic regression models to assess relationships between CAM use, DD, and chronic conditions.
Main Results:
- Children with developmental disabilities (DD) exhibited higher CAM usage (21%) compared to typically developing peers (16%).
- Children with DD and comorbid chronic medical conditions demonstrated even greater CAM utilization (23%) versus those without (18%).
Conclusions:
- Children with DD, particularly those with co-occurring chronic medical conditions, are more frequent users of CAM.
- Healthcare providers should be aware of increased CAM exposure in this population due to limited safety and efficacy data.
- Open communication between parents and clinicians regarding CAM treatments is essential.
Objective:
The primary aim of this study was to evaluate differences in the prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) usage among children with and without developmental disabilities (DD). Secondarily, the association between CAM usage and comorbid chronic medical conditions was explored among children with DD.
Design:
Data come from the 2012 Child Complementary and Alternative Medicine Supplement of the National Health Interview Survey, a nationally representative sample of children in the United States between the ages of 4 and 17 (n = 10,218).Main outcome measures Multiple logistical regression models provided insight into the relationships between parent-report CAM usage, DD, and chronic medical conditions.
Results:
Children with developmental disabilities were more likely to use CAMs compared to their typically developing peers (21% vs 16%). Children with DDs and comorbid chronic medical conditions used CAMs at even higher rates (23% vs 18%).
Conclusions:
Results indicated that children with DD, especially those with a co-occurring chronic medical condition, use CAMs more often that typically developing children. Given scarcity of information on safety and effectiveness, clinical providers need to be alert to which children may be more likely to be exposed to CAMs. Communication between parents and providers needs to include discussion of CAM treatments.
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