title: Complementary and alternative medicine: A survey of its use in children with chronic respiratory illness.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has increased in recent years, with especially high prevalence in individuals with chronic illnesses. In the United States, the prevalence of CAM use in pediatric asthma patients is as high as 89%.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the epidemiology of pediatric CAM use in respiratory subspecialty clinics.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey was conducted at two hospital-based respiratory clinics in Edmonton (Alberta) and Ottawa (Ontario). Caregivers (most often parents) of children <18 years of age were asked questions regarding child and caregiver use of CAM, including products and practices used, beliefs about CAM, trust in information sources about CAM and characteristics of the respondents themselves.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 202 survey questionnaires were completed (151 from Edmonton and 51 from Ottawa). Pediatric CAM use in Edmonton was 68% compared with 45% in Ottawa, and was associated with caregiver CAM use, poorer health and health insurance coverage for CAM. The majority (67%) of children using CAM had taken prescription drugs concurrently and 58% of caregivers had discussed this with their doctor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lifetime use of CAM at these pediatric clinics was higher than reported for children who do not have chronic diseases. CAM practices that are popular may be worthy of further research to evaluate their effectiveness and safety profile with regard to drug interactions. Health care providers should be encouraged to discuss CAM use at every visit, and explore their patient's health-related beliefs, behaviours and treatment preferences.
authors.affiliation: School of Population and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia; ; Department of Pediatrics; Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry;
authors.forename: Ellison
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Richmond
authors.affiliation: CARE Program, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta;
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.affiliation: Palladian Health, West Seneca, New York, USA;
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dagenais
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pediatrics, and Epidemiology & Community Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario;
authors.forename: Tammy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Clifford
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics; Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry; University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta;
authors.forename: Lola
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baydala
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario.
authors.forename: W James
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: King
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics; Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry; ; CARE Program, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta;
authors.forename: Sunita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vohra
keywords: Asthma, Complementary medicine; Cystic fibrosis; Pediatrics; Respiratory illness; Survey