Pediatricians' attitudes, experience and referral patterns regarding complementary/alternative medicine: a national survey

• Principais autores: Thomas Ronald (Autor), Sawni Anju (Autor)
• Formato: Livro
• Publicado em: BMC, 2007-06-01T00:00:00Z.
• Assuntos: article
• Acesso em linha: Connect to this object online.

Resumo

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To assess pediatricians' attitudes toward & practice of Complementary/Alternative Medicine (CAM) including their knowledge, experience, & referral patterns for CAM therapies.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>An anonymous, self-report, 27-item questionnaire was mailed nationally to fellows of the American Academy of Pediatrics in July 2004.</p> <p>648 of 3500 pediatricians' surveyed responded (18%).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The median age ranged from 46-59 yrs; 52% female, 81% Caucasian, 71% generalists, & 85% trained in the US. Over 96% of pediatricians' responding believed their patients were using CAM. Discussions of CAM use were initiated by the family (70%) & only 37% of pediatricians asked about CAM use as part of routine medical history. Majority (84%) said more CME courses should be offered on CAM and 71% said they would consider referring patients to CAM practitioners. Medical conditions referred for CAM included; chronic problems (headaches, pain management, asthma, backaches) (86%), diseases with no known cure (55.5%) or failure of conventional therapies (56%), behavioral problems (49%), & psychiatric disorders (47%). American born, US medical school graduates, general pediatricians, & pediatricians who ask/talk about CAM were most likely to believe their patients used CAM (P < 0.01).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Pediatricians' have a positive attitude towards CAM. Majority believe that their patients are using CAM, that asking about CAM should be part of routine medical history, would consider referring to a CAM practitioner and want more education on CAM.</p>

Descrição do item

10.1186/1472-6882-7-18
1472-6882