title: Prevalence and Predictors of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use in a Large Insured Sample of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the present study was to examine the prevalence and predictors of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use as well as parental perceptions of CAM efficacy in a large, geographically diverse sample of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were obtained from a web-based survey administered to parents of children with ASD at four sites participating in the Mental Health Research Network (MHRN). The web survey obtained information about services and treatments received by children with ASD as well as the caregivers' experiences with having a child with ASD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Approximately 88% of the sample had either used CAM in the past or had recently used some type of CAM. The following characteristics were associated with CAM use: greater parental education, younger child age, a mix of regular and special classroom settings and prescription drug use in the past three months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of CAM was very prevalent in this large, geographically diverse sample of children with ASD. It is critical that providers be prepared to discuss the advantages and potential side effects with families to help them make well-informed health care decisions and prevent possible CAM-drug interactions.
authors.affiliation: Georgia State University, Division of Health Management and Policy, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Kaiser Permanente Georgia, Center for Clinical and Outcomes Research, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
authors.forename: Ashli A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Owen-Smith
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bent
authors.affiliation: The Center for Health Research/Northwest, Kaiser Permanente Northwest (KPNW), Portland, Oregon, USA.
authors.forename: Frances L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Lynch
authors.affiliation: Department of Research and Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California (KPSC), Pasadena, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Karen J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Coleman
authors.affiliation: Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC), Oakland, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Vincent M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Yau
authors.affiliation: The Center for Health Research/Northwest, Kaiser Permanente Northwest (KPNW), Portland, Oregon, USA.
authors.forename: Kathryn A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Pearson
authors.affiliation: Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC), Oakland, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Maria L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Massolo
authors.affiliation: Department of Research and Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California (KPSC), Pasadena, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.affiliation: Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC), Oakland, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Lisa A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Croen
keywords: autism spectrum disorders; complementary and alternative medicine