Alternative and complementary health practices for children with special health care needs and disabilities: Patterns of use and communication with physicians

Policy initiatives to improve the health status of children with special health care needs (SHCN) and disabilities focus on the provision of coordinated, family-centered and conventional health services. Childrens' use of alternative and complementary health practices (ACHP) may impact overall care coordination efforts, particularly when physicians are unaware. An on-line survey (December 2006-January 2007) recruited parents who self-identified as having children with SHCN and disabilities, ages 6-18y, to inform development of supports to assist families' health promotion efforts. Via list-servs for parent support organizations – cross- and disability-specific - nationwide, 860 parents, predominantly mothers, were recruited. Children were mean(SD) age 11.0(4.1)y, largely white (82.4%), and resided in 49 states and DC; 95.8% had insurance coverage.

43.7% of parents overall reported using at least one ACHP with their child within the past 12 months. Usage of at least one ACHP was 50.8% among the 323 parents whose children had autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Among all parents, herbal and dietary supplements were most used (23.6%) and 38% of users discussed it with their child's doctor. Percentages of other ACHPs used and percentage of users who discussed it with their child's doctor were 19.8% (34.7% of users) for specific vitamin supplements, 11.9% (40.8% of users) for therapeutic diets (like gluten-& casein-free diets for autism), and 10.3% (22.5% of users) for massage. Frequencies were higher, but similar in pattern of use and communication among children with ASD.

Physicians who don't ask parents about ACHP may miss information important to the child's overall quality of care.