title: Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use in Modern Obstetrics: A Survey of the Central Association of Obstetricians & Gynecologists Members.
abstract: The use of complementary and alternative medicine during pregnancy is currently on the rise. A validated survey was conducted at the Central Association of Obstetrician and Gynecologists annual meeting to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice of general obstetricians and gynecologists and maternal-fetal medicine specialists in America. We obtained 128 responses: 73 electronically (57%) and 55 via the paper survey (43%). Forty-five percent reported personally using complementary and alternative medicine and 9% of women respondents used complementary and alternative medicine during pregnancy. Overall, 62% had advised their patients to utilize some form of complementary and alternative medicine in pregnancy. Biofeedback, massage therapy, meditation, and yoga were considered the most effective modalities in pregnancy (median [semi-interquartile range] = 2 [0.5]). Maternal-fetal medicine specialists were significantly more likely to disagree on the use of complementary and alternative medicine for risk reduction of preterm birth compared to obstetricians and gynecologists ( P = .03). As the use of complementary and alternative medicine continues to rise in reproductive-age women, obstetricians will play an integral role in incorporating complementary and alternative medicine use with conventional medicine.
authors.affiliation: 1 Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Shilpa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Babbar
authors.affiliation: 2 University of Missouri, Kansas City, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Karen B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: 2 University of Missouri, Kansas City, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Dev
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Maulik
mesh_terms: D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000193:education; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009774:Obstetrics; D011247:Pregnancy
keywords: complementary and alternative medicine; obstetrics; pregnancy