238026 Population-based profile of complementary and alternative health care use among US children with health conditions

Tuesday, November 1, 2011: 9:00 AM

Christina Bethell, PhD, MBA, MPH , Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, The Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR
Scott Stumbo, MA , Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR
Narangerel Gombojav, PhD , Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR
     
Background: Population-based information on use of complementary and alternative health care by children with specific health conditions is critical but lacking. Objective: To provide a population-based profile of the prevalence of CAM use among all children, children with special health care needs and children with specific health conditions. Design/Methods: Data files from the 2007 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) are linked with the NHIS CAM Child Supplement to estimate children with special health care needs (CSHCN) and condition specific prevalence estimates of CAM use overall and by specific modality. Results: Over half of US children (53.5%) whose parents indicate they experienced one or more of 59 health problems or conditions also report some type of CAM use in the past 12 months (14.5% when excluding vitamins). Use of CAM (excluding vitamins) was notably higher for children with autism (32.8%), emotional, mental or behavioral problems (EMB) (25.4%) and pain related conditions (25.1%). Use of multiple CAM modalities is common. Conclusions: While only 14.2% of children whose parents report CAM use have a specific health condition named by parents for this CAM use in the NHIS Child CAM Supplement, nearly all CAM users have health problems reported by parents in the NHIS and over half who experience health conditions use some type of CAM. Given that nearly half of children experienced 3 or more health problems, condition specific assessments should also be reevaluated. Findings support rapid action to address integration of CAM with conventional medicine in order for health care to be family centered and effective.

Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and prevention

Learning Objectives:
Describe the population of children who use complementary and alternative (CAM) health practices. Compare users of CAM to non-users of CAM. Differentiate groups of children in the US who are more likely to use CAM. Assess whether child CAM use is more likely in those with identifiable health conditions.

Keywords: Alternative Medicine/Therapies, Child/Adolescent

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to present because I am a Senior Research Associate with 15 years of experience analyzing data and presenting results to public health and policy audiences. I have spent three years working with quantitative data on children’s health, access to care and quality of care received.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Alternative, Complementary, and Integrative Methods in Pediatrics
See more of: Alternative and Complementary Health Practices