title: Observational study of alternative therapies among paediatric emergency department patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  While complementary medicine use among ED paediatric patients is common, the use of alternative therapies (ATs; physical or spiritual therapies) is unknown. We aimed to determine the 12 month period prevalence and nature of AT use among paediatric patients and parent perceptions of AT use.
  
  
  METHODS
  We undertook a cross-sectional survey of a convenience sample of parents of paediatric patients in three EDs in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia (January-June, 2015). Parents were invited to complete a validated, anonymous, self-administered questionnaire. The main outcomes were AT use by the patient and parent perceptions of ATs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 806 parents were enrolled. In the previous 12 months, 393 (48.8%) patients had received at least one AT. There were no gender or ethnicity differences between AT users and non-users. AT use was more common among older patients (P < 0.05). Patients with chronic illness tended to use more ATs (P = 0.12). A total of 1091 courses of 43 different ATs had been provided. The most common were massage (16% of patients), chiropractic therapy (9.8%), relaxation (7.2%), meditation (6.2%) and aromatherapy (6.1%). ATs were generally used for musculoskeletal problems, health maintenance, stress and anxiety. Parents who arranged the ATs were significantly more likely to report that ATs are safe, prevent and treat illness, assist prescription medicines and offer a more holistic approach to healthcare (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AT use is common among paediatric ED patients. Parents who arrange AT have differing perceptions of AT usefulness and safety from those who do not.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Juen-Li
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Emergency Department, Austin Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: David McD
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8986-9997
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Emergency Department, Austin Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Olivia G
authors.initials: OG
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Aadith
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ashok
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Emergency Department, Monash Medical Centre, Emergency Program, Monash Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Monash Emergency Research Collaborative, Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Meg
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Griffiths
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Leopold
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Simma
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Emergency Department, Monash Medical Centre, Emergency Program, Monash Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Monash Emergency Research Collaborative, Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Simon S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Emergency Department, Monash Medical Centre, Emergency Program, Monash Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Emergency Department, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cheek
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Emergency Department, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Franz E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Babl
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001315:Australia; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010465:Perception; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: alternative therapy; complementary medicine; emergency department; paediatric