HEALTH SERVICE RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATION ABSTRACTS
Please note: All posters will be displayed in
Salons 10-12.
FRIDAY, 10:15-11:00 AM
Sawni A, Scheurer A, Thomas R, Mahajan P.
Pediatricians' experience with and attitudes toward complementary/alternative
medicine: a national survey.
Children's Hospital of Michigan, Wayne State University
School of Medicine, Detroit MI asawni@med.wayne.edu
BACKGROUND: Recent studies report that the use
of complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) is prevalent in both adults
& children. Other studies have assessed attitudes, beliefs & use of
CAM by primary care physicians. There is scant data on pediatricians'
attitudes, beliefs and use of CAM in the U.S.
OBJECTIVE: To assess pediatricians' attitudes
toward & practice of CAM including their knowledge, experience, & referral
patterns for CAM therapies.
METHODS: An anonymous, self-report, 27- item
questionnaire was mailed nationally to fellows of the American Academy
of Pediatrics in July 2004. 648 of 3500 pediatricians' surveyed responded
(18%). Demographic information, pediatricians' perceptions of patients'
use of CAM, personal & family use of CAM, referrals for CAM, & attitudes
toward CAM were assessed.
RESULTS: The median age of the 648 respondents
ranged from 46-59 yrs; 52% female, 81% Caucasian, 71% generalists, &
85% trained in the US. Over 96% of pediatricians' responding believed
their patients were using CAM. Of those pediatricians', 72% believed
this constituted less than 30% of their patients. 70% said discussions
of CAM use were initiated by the family; only 37% asked about CAM use
as part of routine medical history. 79% said CAM use should be part
of medical history, and 84% said more CME courses should be offered
on CAM. 49% reported personal use of CAM & 71% said they would consider
referring patients to CAM practitioners'. Medical conditions referred
for CAM use included; chronic problems (headaches, pain management,
asthma, backaches) (86%), diseases with no known cure (55.5%) or failure
of conventional therapies (56%), behavioral problems (49%), & psychiatric
disorders (47%). American born, US medical school graduates, general
pediatricians, & pediatricians who ask/talk about CAM were most likely
to believe their patients used CAM (p-value <0.01).
CONCLUSION: Pediatricians' have a positive attitude
towards CAM & believe that almost one-third of their patients are using
CAM. A majority believe that assessing CAM use should be a routine part
of medical history however, only one-third report doing so. Majority
would consider referring to a CAM practitioner, & were interested in
CME on CAM. More education, and on going research is needed for physicians
on CAM.
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