Tags : alternative medicine
Survey: Growing Number Of Parents Curious About Alternative Medicine
Washington, D.C. (AHN) – A new nationwide survey released on Friday reveals that only a small fraction of parents have spoken to their child’s doctor about alternative medicine. According to the study just 12 percent of parents with children under the age of 18 have discussed all available options with medical practitioners, while 90 percent say they want to know more about non-traditional treatments.
The survey, conducted by Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota assessed parents’ attitudes about various approaches to treating a child’s illnesses. Specifically integrative medicine which combined conventional medical therapies like drugs, chemotherapy and surgery, with complementary therapies like massage, acupuncture and proper nutrition.
What researchers found was parents are concerned about the overuse of prescription medications with their children. 85 percent of survey respondents feel it’s important to minimize a child’s dependence on drugs, especially for behavioral issues like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or anxiety.
Another medical issue parents feel strongly about is pain management in their children and improving quality of life. 90 percent of survey respondents felt these two issues were just as importation as treating the child’s primary medical affliction.
For instance proponents for complementary and alternative medicine say 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,” says Timothy Culbert, MD, Medical Director of Pediatric Integrative Medicine Clinical Programs at Children’s.
Culbert continues, “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.”
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.
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