title: Prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)-use in UK paediatric patients: a systematic review of surveys.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This systematic review is aimed at estimating the prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)-use by paediatric populations in the United Kingdom (UK).
  
  
  METHODS
  AMED, CINAHL, COCHRANE, EMBASE and MEDLINE were searched for English language peer-reviewed surveys published between 01 January 2000 and September 2011. Additionally, relevant book chapters and our own departmental files were searched manually.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eleven surveys were included with a total of 17,631 paediatric patients. The majority were of poor methodological quality. Due to significant heterogeneity of the data, a formal meta-analysis was deemed inappropriate. Ten surveys related to CAM in general, while one was specifically on homeopathy. Across all surveys on CAM in general, the average one-year prevalence rate was 34% and the average lifetime prevalence was 42%. In surveys with a sample size of more than 500, the prevalence rates were considerably lower than in surveys with the sample size of lower than 500. Herbal medicine was the most popular CAM modality, followed by homeopathy and aromatherapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Many paediatric patients in the UK seem to use CAM. Paediatricians should therefore have sufficient knowledge about CAM to issue responsible advice.
authors: Complementary Medicine, Peninsula Medical School, University of Exeter, Veysey Building, Salmon Pool Lane, Exeter, EX2 4SG, United Kingdom. Paul.Posadzki@pcmd.ac.uk
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Posadzki
authors: Leala
authors: L
authors: Watson
authors: Amani
authors: A
authors: Alotaibi
authors: Edzard
authors: E
authors: Ernst
mesh_terms: D019341:Aromatherapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006705:Homeopathy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000379:methods*; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006113:United Kingdom