Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use Among Pediatric Emergency Department Patients in Singapore.

Advanced Search

Jayapriya Sathiyan, Noorul Faeyza, Krishnapriya Ramasamy, Wei Sheng Ng, Sashikumar Ganapathy

Author Information

Jayapriya Sathiyan: From the KK Women's and Children's Hospital.
Noorul Faeyza: MOH Holdings Pte Ltd.
Krishnapriya Ramasamy: MOH Holdings Pte Ltd.
Wei Sheng Ng: Sengkang General Hospital.
Sashikumar Ganapathy: Children's Emergency, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore.

PMID: 32530833 DOI: 10.1097/PEC.0000000000002117

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and types of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among pediatric emergency department (ED) patients and perceptions of CAM among the caregivers who administer CAM in Singapore.
METHODS: A survey was administered in a Singapore ED (June 2016-June 2017). A convenience sample of parents/carers accompanying pediatric patients completed a self-administered questionnaire. The primary outcome measures were prevalence of CAM use and perceptions of CAM.
RESULTS: Parents/carers of 610 patients participated. Four hundred seventy-five (78.0%, 95% confidence interval, 74.5-81.0) had taken a CAM within the previous 12 months and 110 (18.1%; 95% confidence interval, 14.8-21.0) had taken a CAM on the day of presentation. There were no sex differences between CAM users and nonusers (P = 0.691). The use of CAM was more common among preschool children and younger (62.9%). There was no difference in CAM use among those with and without chronic disease (P = 0.878). Vitamins/supplements, cod liver oil, and probiotics were the most commonly used CAM. A total of 0.7% of CAM use was reported to the ED doctor. There were no adverse effects reported. The perception that CAMs are safe was more common among parents or caregivers who had administered CAM (P = 0.008).
CONCLUSIONS: Complementary and alternative medicine use is very common among pediatric ED patients in Singapore and is more prevalent than in Australia and the United Kingdom. However, it is not always reported to the doctor. Parents or caregivers who administer CAM are more likely to perceive CAMs to be safe.

National Institutes of Health. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Web site. Available at: https://nccih.nih.gov/research/statistics/2007/camsurvey_fs1.htm . Accessed November 10, 2019.

Harris PE, Cooper KL, Relton C, et al. Prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use by the general population: a systematic review and update. Int J Clin Pract . 2012;66:924–939.

Lim MK, Sadarangani P, Chan HL, et al. Complementary and alternative medicine use in multiracial Singapore. Complement Ther Med . 2005;13:16–24.

Pitetti R, Singh S, Hornak D, et al. Complementary and alternative medicine use in children. Pediatr Emerg Care . 2001;17:165–169.

Sawni-Sikand A, Schubiner H, Thomas RL. Use of complementary/alternative therapies among children in primary care pediatrics. Ambul Pediatr . 2002;2:99–103.

Loman DG. The use of complementary and alternative health care practices among children. J Pediatr Health Care . 2003;17:58–63.

Ball SD, Kertesz D, Moyer-Mileur LJ. Dietary supplement use is prevalent among children with a chronic illness. J Am Diet Assoc . 2005;105:78–84.

McCann LJ, Newell SJ. Survey of paediatric complementary and alternative medicine use in health and chronic illness. Arch Dis Child . 2006;91:173–174.

Ong F, Seah Lee W, Lin C, et al. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practices and dietary patterns in children with inflammatory bowel disease in Singapore and Malaysia. Pediatr Neonatol . 2018;5:494–500.

Lanski SL, Greenwald M, Perkins A, et al. Herbal therapy use in a pediatric emergency department population: expect the unexpected. Pediatrics . 2003;111:981–985.

Taylor DM, Dhir R, Craig SS, et al. Complementary and alternative medicine use among paediatric emergency department patients. J Paediatr Child Health . 2015;51:895–900.

Taylor DM, Walsham N, Taylor SE, et al. Potential interactions between prescription drugs and complementary and alternative medicines among patients in the emergency department. Pharmacotherapy . 2006;26:634–640.

Smith SM, Schroeder K, Fahey T. Over-the-counter (OTC) medications for acute cough in children and adults in community settings. Cochrane Database Syst Rev . 2014;11:CD001831.

Leyer GJ, Li S, Mubasher ME, et al. Probiotic effects on cold and influenza-like symptom incidence and duration in children. Pediatrics . 2009;124:e172–e179.

Sazawal S, Hiremath G, Dhingra U, et al. Efficacy of probiotics in prevention of acute diarrhoea: a meta-analysis of masked, randomised, placebo-controlled trials. Lancet Infect Dis . 2006;6:374–382.

Johnston BC, Supina AL, Vohra S. Probiotics for pediatric antibiotic-associated diarrhea: a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials. CMAJ . 2006;175:377–383.

Meyer S, Gortner L, Larsen A, et al. Complementary and alternative medicine in paediatrics: a systematic overview/synthesis of Cochrane Collaboration reviews. Swiss Med Wkly . 2013;143:2122.

Health Sciences Authority. Chinese Proprietary Medicines. Available at: https://www.hsa.gov.sg/chinese-proprietary-medicines/overview . Accessed November 10, 2019.

Health Sciences Authority. Regulatory overview of traditional medicines. Available at: https://www.hsa.gov.sg/traditional-medicines/regulatory-overview-of-traditional-medicines . Accessed November 10, 2019.

Health Sciences Authority. Report adverse events. Available at: https://www.hsa.gov.sg/adverse-events . Accessed November 10, 2019.

Bhadra R, Ravakhah K, Ghosh RK. Herb-drug interaction: the importance of communicating with primary care physicians. Australas Med J . 2015;8:315–319.

Child

Child, Preschool

Complementary Therapies

Cross-Sectional Studies

Emergency Service, Hospital

Humans

Singapore

Surveys and Questionnaires

Journal Article

OpenLB
Open Library of Bioscience