Attitudes toward integrative paediatrics: a national survey among youth health care physicians in the Netherlands

• Published in: BMC complementary and alternative medicine 2012-01, Vol.12 (1), Article 4
• Main Authors: Jong, Miek C, van Vliet, Marja, Huttenhuis, Susan, van der Veer, Désirée, van den Heijkant, Silvia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Attitudes; Integrative Paediatrics; National survey; Youth Healthcare
• ISSN: 1472-6882; 1472-6882
• DOI: 10.1186/1472-6882-12-4

Background: Integrative Medicine (IM) is an emerging field in paediatrics, especially in the USA. The purpose ofthe present study was to assess the attitudes and beliefs of Youth Health Care (YHC) physicians in the Netherlandstoward IM in paediatrics.Methods: In October 2010, a link to an anonymous, self-reporting, 30-item web-based questionnaire was mailed toall members of the Dutch Organisation of YHC physicians. The questionnaire included questions on familiarity withIM, attitudes towards Integrative Paediatrics (IP), use and knowledge of Complementary and Alternative Medicine(CAM), demographic and practice characteristics.Results: A total of 276 YHC physicians (response rate of 27%) responded to the survey. Of the respondents, 52% wasfamiliar with IM and 56% had used some kind of CAM therapy during the past 2 years, of which self-medicatedherbal and/or homeopathic remedies (61%) and supplements (50%) were most frequently mentioned. Most of theYHC physicians (62%) seldom asked parents of clients about CAM use. One third of the YHC physiciansrecommended CAM to their clients. In general, about 50% or more of the respondents had little knowledge of CAMtherapies. Predictors for a positive attitude towards IP were familiarity with IM, own CAM use, asking their clientsabout CAM use and practising one or more forms of CAM therapy. Logistic regression analysis showed that thefollowing factors were associated with a higher recommendation to CAM therapies: own CAM use (odds ratio (OR) =3.8; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.1-6.9, p = 0.001) and practising CAM (OR 4.4; 95% CI = 1.6-11.7, p = 0.003).Conclusions: In general Dutch YHC physicians have a relative positive attitude towards IP; more than half of therespondents used one or more forms of CAM and one third recommended CAM therapies. However, the majority ofYHC physicians did not ask their clients about CAM use and seemed to have a lack of knowledge regarding CAM.