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Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use in Children With Cancer and General and Specialty Pediatrics

University of Minnesota, postw001@ umn.edu

Maura Fitzgerald, MS, MA, RN, CNSs

Integrative Medicine Program at Children's Hospital and Clinics of Minnesota

Susan Hageness, DNP, RN, AHN-BC, CCAP, CHTP

Departments of Nursing and Holistic Health Studies at The College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, Minnesota

Susan F. Sencer, MD

Hematology/Oncology at Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota

The objective of this survey is to determine the frequency, reasons, and factors influencing use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in general and specialty pediatrics within the same geographic area. Of the 281 surveys completed, CAM use was higher in children with epilepsy (61.9%), cancer (59%), asthma (50.7%), and sickle cell disease (47.4%) than in general pediatrics (36%). Children most often used prayer (60.5%), massage (27.9%), specialty vitamins (27.2%), chiropractic care (25.9%), and dietary supplements (21.8%). Parents who used CAM for themselves (68.7%) were more likely to access CAM for their child. Most parents (62.6%) disclosed some or all of their child's use of CAM to providers. This study confirms that within the same geographic region, children with chronic and life-threatening illness use more CAM therapies than children seen in primary care clinics. Children with cancer use CAM for different reasons than children with non-life-threatening illnesses.

Key Words: Key words: complementary and alternative medicine • children • cancer • pediatrics

This version was published on January 1, 2009

Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, Vol. 26, No. 1, 7-15 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/1043454208323914


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