title: Complementary and alternative medicine used by children in military pediatric clinics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence, types, perceived effects, and factors that influence the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) by military children.
  
  
  METHODS
  A parent survey was administered in two military general pediatric clinics from June to September 2009. Parents completed surveys about their children including the following items: demographic information, a list of specific CAM therapies, family CAM use, and child health status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Caregivers completed 278 surveys. The overall use of CAM was 23%. The most common type of CAM used was herbal therapy (34%). The CAM therapies most commonly reported to be very helpful were special diets (67%), melatonin (57%), vitamins and minerals used at doses higher than the recommended daily allowance (50%), and massage therapy (50%). The majority of users reported no side-effects (96%). Among CAM users, 53% had discussed their CAM use with a physician and 47% had seen a CAM practitioner. Factors associated with CAM use in multiple regression analysis included chronic conditions (p = 0.001), parent/sibling use of CAM (p < 0.001), and parent age over 30 years (p = 0.02). Primary sources of CAM information were friends and family (68%) and doctors (44%). Common reasons for using CAM were to promote general health (70%), to relieve symptoms (56%), and to improve quality of life (48%). Eighty percent (80%) of all respondents indicated they would use CAM if recommended by a physician.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this military population with access to universal health care, CAM use is higher than the U.S. national average and nearly double that of the 2007 National Health Interview Survey study. Patients with chronic conditions, family members using CAM, and parental age over 30 years are more likely to use CAM. CAM is perceived as helpful with minimal to no side-effects. Pediatricians should inquire about CAM use and be prepared to provide guidance on this topic.
authors.affiliation: Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Madigan Army Medical Center, Fort Lewis, WA, USA. adam.huillet@us.army.mil
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Huillet
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Erdie-Lalena
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Norvell
authors.forename: Beth Ellen
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Davis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D017028:Caregivers; D002648:Child; D002654:Child Care; D002908:Chronic Disease; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D054626:Consumer Health Information; D005190:Family; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006772:Hospitals, Military; D006801:Humans; D008405:Massage; D008550:Melatonin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D044623:Nutrition Therapy; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010372:Pediatrics; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D008517:Phytotherapy
chemical_list: D008550:Melatonin