Hartmann N, Neininger MP, Bernhard MK, Syrbe S, Nickel P,
Merkenschlager A, Kiess W, Bertsche T, Bertsche A. Use of complementary and
alternative medicine (CAM) by parents in their children and adolescents with
epilepsy - Prevelance, predictors and parents' assessment. Eur J Paediatr Neurol.
2016 Jan;20(1):11-9.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is
popular. Parents of children suffering from epilepsy may also consider
administering CAM to their children. Systematic data about frequency of and
motivations for CAM use, however, are scarce.
METHODS:
In a university hospital's neuropaediatric department
parents of patients aged 0-18 years suffering from epilepsy were consecutively
invited to take part in a structured interview during 4 months in 2014.
RESULTS:
Of the invited parents, 164/165 (99%) agreed to participate.
From those, 21/164 (13%) stated that they used CAM in their child. The highest
independent predictive value of CAM use was the occurrence of adverse drug
events (ADE) of anticonvulsants as judged by parents. Patients affected by ADE
had a 5.6 higher chance of receiving CAM compared to patients without ADE. Most
commonly used were homeopathy (14/21, 67%) and osteopathy (12/21, 57%). The
internet was the most frequently used source of information (14/21, 67%). Of the
parents, 10/21 (48%) described positive effects of CAM on seizure frequency,
12/21 (57%) on general condition of their child, and 20/21 (95%) wished to
continue CAM for epilepsy therapy. From the non-users of CAM, 91/143 (66%)
expressed the desire to learn more about CAM for epilepsy therapy.
LIMITATIONS:
Our study was performed in a university hospital in a large
urban city in Eastern Germany. CAM user rates can differ in other parts of
Germany and Europe, in other institutions and for chronic diseases other than
epilepsy.
CONCLUSION:
The main reason for CAM use was the occurrence of ADE of
anticonvulsants. More than half of the parents saw a benefit of CAM for their
children. Almost all parents wished to continue CAM use, even those who did not
see concrete positive effects.
See: https://childnervoussystem.blogspot.com/2016/01/complementary-and-alternative.html
McConnell BV, Applegate M, Keniston A, Kluger B, Maa EH. Use of complementary and alternative medicine in an urban county hospital epilepsy clinic. Epilepsy Behav. 2014 May;34:73-6.
ReplyDeleteAbstract
We examined self-reported complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among a largely indigent population with epilepsy. Overall CAM use was 70%, with the most frequently reported complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) being medical marijuana (33%), prayer/spirituality (31%), meditation (19%), vitamins (19%), and stress management (16%). Forty-four percent of patients reported improved seizure control with CAMs. Stress management accounted for perceived seizure reduction in 74%, followed by marijuana (54%), prayer (49%), and yoga (42%). Among the most commonly used and helpful CAMs, stress management was not associated with specific demographic or clinical variables; marijuana use was significantly associated with lower age (users=35.2±10 years vs. nonusers=41.6±12; p<0.01) and lower income (under $15,000 40% use vs. 14% over $15,000; p<0.05); and prayer was significantly associated with female gender (male=21% vs. female=45%; p<0.01) and Black ethnicity (Black=55% vs. Hispanic=30% vs. White=23%; p<0.05). Taken together, our study was notable for the high rate of CAM utilization in a largely indigent population, with high rates of perceived efficacy among several CAM modalities.