Use of natural health products in children: survey of parents in waiting rooms.
OBJECTIVE
To determine how common it is for parents to give natural health products (NHPs) to their children, which NHPs are being used, why they are being used, and parents' assessments of the benefits and side effects of NHPs.


METHODS
Survey.


METHODS
Newfoundland and Labrador.


METHODS
Parents waiting in their family doctors' offices.


METHODS
Parent and child demographic characteristics; pediatric chronic medical conditions affecting the children; prescribed medications, over-the-counter medications, and NHPs used by the children; why the medications and NHPs were being used, the dose, and parents' assessments of the effectiveness and side effects; and where parents had heard about the NHPs, whether they had told their physicians that the children were taking the products, and where they had obtained the products.


RESULTS
A total of 202 (53.4%) of the 378 eligible adults who were approached completed the survey. This represented 333 children. Mean (SD) age of the children was 5.1 (3.3) years. Overall, 28.7% of parents reported using nonvitamin NHPs for their children. A total of 137 children (41.1%) had taken NHPs (including vitamins); 61.1% of the NHPs being used were vitamins. The remainder fell under teas (primarily chamomile and green teas), echinacea, fish or omega-3 oils, and a large category of "other" products. These NHPs were most commonly used to improve general health, improve immunity, and prevent colds and infections. Approximately half of the parents (51.7%) believed their children had benefited from taking NHPs, and 4.4% believed their children had experienced adverse side effects. Slightly less than half of the parents (45.0%) had informed their physicians that their children were taking NHPs.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, 45.5% of parents attending physicians' offices reported using NHPs in their children. If vitamins are not included in the definition of NHPs, this rate drops to 28.7%. Parents most commonly use NHPs to maintain the general health of their children, to prevent colds, and to boost children's immune systems. About half of the parents believed the NHPs helped, very few had noticed any side effects, and approximately half had informed their physicians that they were giving their children NHPs.
Memorial University of Newfoundland, Primary Healthcare Research Unit, Room 1776, Health Science Centre, 300 Prince Phillip Dr, St John's, NL A1B 3V6, Canada. godwinm@mun.ca
Marshall
M
Godwin
John
J
Crellin
Maria
M
Mathews
Nurun L
NL
Chowdhury
Leigh Anne
LA
Newhook
Andrea
A
Pike
Farah
F
McCrate
Rebecca
R
Law
D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008419:Materia Medica / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009523:Newfoundland and Labrador; D010290:Parents; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use
D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005395:Fish Oils; D008419:Materia Medica; D014815:Vitamins