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Use of complementary and alternative medicine in healthy children and children with chronic medical conditions in Germany.
- Source :
-
Complementary therapies in medicine [Complement Ther Med] 2013 Apr; Vol. 21 Suppl 1, pp. S61-9. Date of Electronic Publication: 2011 Jul 08. - Publication Year :
- 2013
-
Abstract
- Objectives: Use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in children is common and probably increasing. However little is known about differences between healthy and chronically ill children with a focus on prevalence, reasons for use/non-use, costs, adverse effects and socio-demographic factors.<br />Design: A questionnaire-based survey with 500 participants visiting the outpatient clinic of the University Children's Hospital Homburg, Germany was conducted over a 4-week period in 2004. Recruitment was stopped when 500 questionnaires were handed out in total.<br />Results: Of the 405 (81%) respondents (242 with chronic conditions, 163 healthy children incidentally visiting the hospital for minor ailments) 229 (57%) reported lifetime CAM use (59% with chronic conditions versus 53% healthy children). Among CAM users the most prevalent therapies were homeopathy (25%), herbal remedies (8%), anthroposophic medicine (7%), vitamin preparations (6%) and acupuncture (5%). The main reasons for use were to strengthen the immune system, physical stabilisation and to increase healing chances/maintain health. Socio-demographic factors associated with CAM use were tertiary education (mother: p=0.017; father: p>0.001), higher family income (p=0.001) and being Protestant (p=0.01). Expectations towards CAM were high and most parents would recommend certain CAM (94%). 79% of the users informed a physician about CAM use. Side effects were rarely reported (4%), minor and self-limiting.<br />Conclusions: Clinical care and the physician-patient relation would benefit from an enhanced understanding of CAM and a greater candidness towards the parental needs. The safety and efficacy especially of CAM with high prevalence rates should be determined in rigorous basic and clinical researches.<br /> (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
- Subjects :
- Adolescent
Child
Child, Preschool
Female
Germany
Health Care Surveys
Hospitals
Humans
Male
Patient Satisfaction
Physician-Patient Relations
Reference Values
Religion
Socioeconomic Factors
Surveys and Questionnaires
Chronic Disease
Complementary Therapies statistics & numerical data
Health
Patient Acceptance of Health Care
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1873-6963
- Volume :
- 21 Suppl 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Complementary therapies in medicine
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 23578919
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2011.06.001