HEALTH SERVICE RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATION ABSTRACTS
Please note: All posters will be displayed in
Salons 10-12.
FRIDAY, 5:45-6:30 PM
Sawni A, Ragothaman R, Thomas R, Mahajan P.
The use of complementary/alternative therapies among
children attending an urban pediatric emergency department.
Children's Hospital of Michigan, Wayne State University
School of Medicine, Detroit asawni@med.wayne.edu
BACKGROUND: Studies report a significant proportion
of adults in the US use complementary/alternative therapies (CAM). However,
few studies have evaluated the use of CAM in children, in particular
children seeking care in a pediatric ED.
OBJECTIVES: To determine the incidence of, &
factors associated with (CAM) use by pediatric patients seeking emergency
care in an urban pediatric ED.
DESIGN/METHODS: Face to face interviews using
a 34-item self-designed questionnaire were conducted with parents/caregivers
of children who presented to an urban pediatric ED in Det, MI from Feb
2004-Sept 2004. Demographic information, prevalence of CAM use, attitudes
towards CAM, factors that influenced use of CAM, & types of CAM therapies
used were assessed. 602 interviews were completed.
RESULTS: The overall use of CAM among children
was 15% & more common among children older than 5 yrs (21%). 57% of
the children sampled were 5yrs or younger; 54% were males; 79% were
African-American & 83% reported family incomes less than 40,000/yr.
63% of the patients did not have ongoing medical problems, 97% didn't
use any medications on a regular basis & 82% were followed by a doctor
regularly. The most common reasons for ED visit were; respiratory illnesses
(21%), gastrointestinal (15%) & musculoskeletal (14%) problems. Family
factors associated with use of CAM were; maternal age greater than 31
yrs of age (p= 0.06), use of CAM by parent/caretaker or partner (p<
0.001), & religious affiliation ( p =0.001). Child's factor associated
with CAM use was age >5yr (p=0.002). Families who used CAM felt results
were best when both CAM & conventional medicine were integrated (p<
.001). 79% reported improvement in child's illness due to CAM use. Most
common types of CAM therapies used were; folk remedies/home remedies
(59 %), herbs (41%), prayer healing (14%), & massage therapy (10%).
Most CAM users (52%) informed their doctor. Logistic regression analysis
revealed that use of CAM by parents/caretakers was the single best predictor
of CAM use in a child (odds ratio- 9.2; 95%CI 5.2-16.4). CONCLUSION:
CAM use is prevalent among our sample of children visiting an urban
pediatric ED. Pediatricians' should inquire about CAM use in the ED
particularly in children older than 5yrs & those with parents/caretakers
using CAM for themselves. Further studies of CAM use with other pediatric
samples are suggested to determine incidence so as to enhance clinical
care.
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