Complementary and alternative medicine in an outpatient pediatric neurology clinic: Prevalence of use and attitudes toward CAM and prescription medications (S35.009)

Objective: Describe the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in an outpatient pediatric neurology clinic, and also assess patients’ and families’ attitudes toward the efficacy of CAM versus prescription medications. Background: CAM is an important element but insufficiently studied element of child neurological health care. However, in the last several years attitudes have evolved substantially, as issues surrounding CAM become matters of public debate. Design/Methods: Surveys were distributed to consecutive patients and families at a tertiary level child neurology clinic in Rochester, MN. The surveys questioned patients on their diagnoses, use of CAM, specific CAM modalities that they use, and their opinions on the efficacy of CAM as well as prescription medications. Data were compared using chi-square tests. Results: 484 surveys were returned, of which 327 were usable. 136/327 (41.6[percnt]) of all patients reported the use of one or more types of CAM; however, only 52/135 (38.5[percnt]) of this subset recognized themselves as using CAM. Disorders associated with a statistically significant increased prevalence of CAM use were headache (65/128, 50.8[percnt], p = 0.008), chronic fatigue (24/38, 63.2[percnt]; p = 0.005), and sleep disorders (27/35, 77.1[percnt]; p < 0.0001). Patients who rated their prescription medications as slightly effective or ineffective /of unclear effectiveness were more likely to use CAM than other patients (55/99, 55.6[percnt], versus 31/105, 29.5[percnt]; p = 0.0002). There was no significant difference in likelihood of college or graduate education between groups. Discussion: A large proportion of pediatric neurology patients in our clinic also use CAM but most of these do not realize that they are doing so, underlining the need to take a careful history when assessing the use of CAM. Patients who are less satisfied with prescription medications are more likely to use CAM, perhaps reflecting the less-tractable nature of their disorders. Disclosure: Dr. Kenney has nothing to disclose. Dr. Youssef has nothing to disclose. Dr. Jenkins has nothing to disclose. Dr. Harris has nothing to disclose. UpToDate, $1700,