title: Use of complementary alternative medicine in pediatric otolaryngology patients: a survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Limited data are available about complementary alternative medicine (CAM) use in children attending otolaryngology services. We investigated the pattern of CAM use among children and adolescents attending a pediatric otolaryngology clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey. Anonymous questionnaires were administered, prior to doctor's admission, to parents accompanying young patients attending the pediatric otolaryngology clinic. Parents were asked about their general attitude toward CAM and whether they had ever consulted or considered a consultation with a CAM therapist. Subsequently, CAM users were asked to provide details on CAM modalities used and on their overall satisfaction with CAM therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 308 questionnaires administered, 294 parents responded (95% response rate). Ninety-four parents (32%) reported considering CAM, or previous or current CAM use. Commonly used CAM treatments were acupuncture (44%), homeopathy (36%), and naturopathy (6.7%). CAM users assessed success rate as being: successful (37%), unsuccessful (24%) or undetermined (39%). Successful treatment was described in terms of cure, improvement and better awareness of the problem being addressed. In most cases parents stated that the primary physician was aware of CAM use by the child (74%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CAM plays a substantial role among parents of children referred to pediatric otolaryngology consultation. The otolaryngologist awareness of parents' preference and interest may contribute to decision making regarding pediatric patients' management. Further investigations regarding CAM are warranted and clinical collaboration with CAM therapists should be considered.
authors: Child Health Center, Armon, Clalit Health Services, Haifa, Israel; Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Carmel Medical Center, Haifa, Israel; Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel. Electronic address: maayan_gr@yahoo.com.
authors: Maayan
authors: M
authors: Gruber
authors: Complementary and Traditional Medicine Unit, Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel; Clalit Health Services, Haifa and Western Galilee District, Israel.
authors: Eran
authors: E
authors: Ben-Arye
authors: Child Health Center, Armon, Clalit Health Services, Haifa, Israel; Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Carmel Medical Center, Haifa, Israel; Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
authors: Nitai
authors: N
authors: Kerem
authors: Child Health Center, Armon, Clalit Health Services, Haifa, Israel; Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Carmel Medical Center, Haifa, Israel; Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
authors: Raanan
authors: R
authors: Cohen-Kerem
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D010036:Otolaryngology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Acupuncture; Complementary alternative medicine (CAM); Doctor–patient communication; Homeopathy; Pediatrics