Positive Health Online

Abstract

MILLER and COLLEAGUES, University of Chicago, Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Chicago, IL 60613-2521, USA. jlrobbin@yahoo.com researched the correlation of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use in children with diabetes mellitus (DM).

Background

To correlate complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use in children with diabetes mellitus (DM) with DM control and other family or disease characteristics.

Methodology

Parents/guardians of children with DM were interviewed about demographics, clinical characteristics, CAM use, health care beliefs, psychosocial variables, and religious beliefs. The child's haemoglobin A1c (HgbA1c) value from the visit was collected. Statistical analyses included chi(2), Fisher's exact test, and 2-sample t-tests.

Results

106 families with type 1 DM were interviewed. 33% of children tried CAM in the last year; 75% of parents had ever tried CAM. Children most commonly tried faith healing or prayer; parents most commonly tried faith healing or prayer, chiropractic, massage, and herbal teas. Children were more likely to have used CAM if their parents or siblings used CAM or their family was more religious. They were more likely to have discussed CAM with their providers if they used CAM. Parents of child CAM users reported more problems with DM treatment adherence.

Conclusion

Children with DM used CAM. There were no differences in DM control, demographics, healthcare beliefs, stress, or quality of life between CAM users and non-users. Practitioners should inquire about CAM use to improve DM care for children.

References

Miller JL,  Cao D,  Miller JG and Lipton RB. Correlates of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use in Chicago area children with diabetes (DM). Primary care diabetes. 3(3): 149-56. Aug 2009.