Attitudes, patterns of recommendation, and communication of pediatric providers about complementary and alternative medicine in a large metropolitan children's hospital

Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2011 Feb;50(2):153-8. doi: 10.1177/0009922810384724. Epub 2010 Dec 2.

Abstract

The authors conducted an e-mail survey of their medical staff to explore the attitudes, patterns of recommendation, and communication of pediatric providers about complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in a large metropolitan children's hospital. Two thirds of the respondents reported awareness about their patients' CAM therapy use (65%) and recommended CAM therapy to their patients (67%). Providers who reported personal use of CAM (71%) were more likely to recommend CAM to their patients compared with those who do not (76% vs 45%; P < .05). One half of pediatric providers reported occasional consultation with their patient's CAM provider, but bidirectional communication was rare (4%). Specific changes in care based on a CAM provider's recommendations were also unusual (4%). Despite the positive attitudes about and willingness to recommend CAM by pediatric providers, communication between these clinicians and CAM providers may be less than ideal.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Attitude of Health Personnel
  • Child
  • Communication
  • Complementary Therapies*
  • Female
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Hospitals, Pediatric*
  • Hospitals, Urban*
  • Humans
  • Interprofessional Relations
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pediatrics
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians'*
  • Professional Practice*
  • Referral and Consultation
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Washington