title: Management of natural health products in pediatrics: a provider-focused quality improvement project.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of natural health products by pediatric patients is common, yet health care providers often do not provide management guidance. The purpose of this project was to improve management of natural health products by pediatric nurse practitioners.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pediatric nurse practitioners from large metropolitan city were recruited (n = 32). A paired pretest-posttest design was used. Study participants were engaged to improve knowledge of natural health products, and a management toolkit was created and tested.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean knowledge scores increased from 59.19 to 76.3 (p < .01). Management practices improved with regard to patient guidance (p < .01) and resource utilization (p < .01). Assessments of product use (p = .51) and drug/herb interactions (p = .35) were not significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This investigation is the first known study to improve knowledge and management of natural health products in pediatric clinical practice.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gutierrez
authors.forename: JoAnne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Silbert-Flagg
authors.forename: Sunita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vohra
mesh_terms: D001688:Biological Products / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D064701:Pediatric Nurse Practitioners / Q000193:education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D058996:Quality Improvement
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products
keywords: Natural health products; U.S. regulation; knowledge; management; toolkit