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Parental attitude towards alternative medicine in the paediatric intensive care unit
M Moenkhoff1, O Baenziger, J Fischer
1University Children's Hospital, University of Zürich, Switzerland.
Insights
Many parents of critically ill children are interested in alternative medicine (AM) for use in the intensive care unit (ICU). However, open discussion of AM with healthcare providers remains a significant barrier.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- Interest in alternative medicine (AM) is increasing globally.
- Studies indicate significant AM usage among adults and children in the general population.
- Parents of critically ill children may have unique perspectives on complementary therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate parental interest in and use of alternative medicine (AM) for critically ill children in a pediatric Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
- To understand the extent to which parents discuss AM with healthcare providers.
- To identify factors associated with AM use in this population.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study involving parents of critically ill children in a university hospital's pediatric ICU.
- Anonymous questionnaires were distributed and returned by mail.
- Data collected on AM interest, usage, and communication with medical staff.
Main Results:
- 70% of parents would welcome AM as a complementary therapy in the ICU.
- 23% considered AM equally or more important than conventional medicine.
- 18% of parents used AM in the ICU, with 41% not discussing it with physicians or nurses; 21% wished to use AM but did not.
Conclusions:
- A significant number of parents are interested in or use alternative medicine (AM) for children in the ICU.
- Lack of open communication regarding AM between parents and medical staff is evident.
- Alternative medicine appears to be of considerable interest, even in critical care settings, yet remains a sensitive topic in doctor-patient relationships.
Unlabelled:
The interest in alternative medicine (AM) is growing. In the USA and Canada, studies showed that 34% of adults and 11% of children use AM. In a prospective cohort study, we investigated the interest in AM among parents of critically ill children in the paediatric Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a university hospital. From January 1996 to April 1997, we distributed questionnaires to the parents of critically ill children. These strictly anonymous questionnaires were completed at home and returned by mail. Exclusion criteria were short ( < 1 day) or repeated hospitalizations, and insufficient proficiency of the German language. The inclusion criteria were fulfilled by 591 patients; 561 received the questionnaire (95%) and 289 (52%) were returned. Of the respondents, 70% would appreciate AM as a complementary therapy on the ICU, 23% found AM equally or more important than conventional medicine whereas only 7% regarded AM as unimportant. On the ICU, 18% used AM; surprisingly 41% of them did not discuss it with physicians or nurses. An additional 21% would have liked to use AM, but did not do so. Typically, AM-users administered AM also at home to their children and themselves. Their children were however, older.
Conclusions:
A substantial proportion of parents used measures of alternative medicine in the intensive care unit, or would have like to do so. However, few had the confidence to discuss this wish with the medical personal. This suggests that alternative medicine is of great interest, even on an intensive care unit. Nevertheless, discussion about alternative medicine seems to be taboo in doctor-patient relations.