WASHINGTON, Oct 16, 2009 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- A new nationwide survey
released today reveals that just 12 percent of parents with children under the
age of 18 have spoken to their child's doctor about complementary and
integrative approaches to medicine, yet nearly 90 percent say they want to know
more. The survey, conducted by Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota
(Children's), assessed parents' attitudes about various approaches to treating a
child's illnesses. Integrative medicine combines the best conventional medical
therapies like drugs, chemotherapy and surgery, with complementary therapies
like massage, acupuncture and proper nutrition.
The survey showed parents are concerned about the overuse of prescription
medications with their children; 85 percent feel it's important to minimize a
child's dependence on drugs, especially for behavioral issues like attention
deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or anxiety. Complementary and alternative
approaches can be a solution to this concern as more natural treatments are
being found to be effective in the management of a variety of children's health
concerns.
Parents also feel strongly about eliminating their child's pain and improving
quality of life; almost 90 percent feel both these factors are as important as
treating their child's condition. Complementary and alternative medicine focuses
on non-drug, less invasive therapies like acupuncture, massage and relaxation to
help kids more effectively control pain, maintain mental health, and improve
quality of life.
"Many children with chronic or acute health conditions seek a complementary or
integrative approach only after they have exhausted all other conventional
treatment options," said Timothy Culbert, MD, Medical Director of Pediatric
Integrative Medicine Clinical Programs at Children's. "Parents should be aware
that integrative medicine can be helpful from the onset of disease and can save
time, money and most importantly, improve a child's quality of life. This is
true for all kinds of conditions including acute illnesses like cancer or
chronic problems like migraines or behavioral issues."
Children's is among the country's leaders in the integrative medicine field with
the largest, longest-running pediatric, clinical integrative medicine program in
North America. The program offers a holistic approach to care, and helps
children and their families manage the everyday struggles of illnesses in a more
comprehensive way. Currently more than half of patients at Children's use some
sort of outpatient complementary or alternative medicine to help manage their
conditions.
Almost 90 percent of parents surveyed indicated they would like to find out more
information about integrative medicine whether it be from their physician, going
to a hospital that offers an integrative medicine program, or seeking out more
information on their own. Other interesting findings include:
-- Sixty-eight percent of parents agreed integrative medicine was an
effective treatment approach.
-- More than three-fourths of parents agree combining conventional and
complementary/alternative approaches to medicine is innovative and that
hospitals should offer medical experts on both conventional and
complementary/alternative therapies.
-- Almost two-thirds of parents who have children with serious health
issues had never considered an integrative approach because they are
unfamiliar with the subject.
The survey of 1,003 parents included 203 parents with kids who have serious,
chronic or acute health problems. This subset of parents had somewhat more
knowledge of integrative medicine (42 percent), but even these parents are not
hearing about the benefits an integrative approach can bring their child. Of the
parents that have used integrative medicine as part of their child's treatment,
95 percent had a positive experience.
"Parents need to consult and work with their child's physician to determine what
integrative medicine options are available that may be helpful," says Dr.
Culbert. "There are so many different kinds of complementary therapies, it's
important to learn about options to find an approach that will work best for
each patient. I see first-hand every day the difference it can make in a child's
life."
More information about the Children's Integrative Medicine Program can be found
by visiting www.childrensintegrativemed.org.
About Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota
Serving as Minnesota's children's hospital since 1924, Children's Hospitals and
Clinics of Minnesota is the seventh-largest pediatric health care organization
in the United States, with 332 staffed beds at its two hospitals in St. Paul and
Minneapolis. An independent, not-for-profit health care system, Children's of
Minnesota provides care through more than 14,000 inpatient visits and more than
200,000 emergency room and other outpatient visits every year. Children's is the
only Minnesota hospital system to provide comprehensive care exclusively to
children. For more information, visit www.childrensmn.org.
SOURCE Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota
URL: http://www.childrensmn.org
http://www.childrensintegrativemed.org
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