Survey: Parents Open to Options of Alternative Medicine

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A recent survey conducted by Children's Hospital and Clinics of Minnesota, a nationwide promoter of integrative medical services, found that 90 percent of parents surveyed would like to know more about alternative medical treatments for their children. Integrative medicine combines traditional Western medicine practices with alternative medical practices from other traditions and Eastern approaches, including acupuncture, homeopathy, massage and nutrition. The survey found that . . .

• 90 percent of parents have a strong desire eradicate their child's pain and improve their quality of life
• 85 percent of the parents identified the goal of reducing their child's dependency on drugs
• Parents felt particularly strong about reducing conventional drug treatment for mood and behavioral problems such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and anxiety
• Over 75 percent of parents felt that hospitals should offer experts in both conventional and alternative treatments
• 68 percent believed that integrative treatments could be effective in helping their child to heal.

Despite the numbers showing that parents are truly interested in integrative medicine, only 12 percent of the parents surveyed had ever addressed the possibility of alternative or integrative medical treatments with their child's doctor! In fact, though over 42 percent of the parents of children with serious health issues were more likely to have knowledge of integrative medicine than others in the survey, nearly two thirds had still not considered integrative medicine due to their lack of knowledge in that area. Many children with chronic or acute health conditions seek a complementary or integrative approach only after they have exhausted all other conventional treatment options, said Dr. Timothy Culbert, a Pediatric Developmental Behavioral Health doctor at Children's. Parents should be aware that integrative medicine can be helpful from the onset of the 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. Dr. Culbert went on to say, Parents need to consult and work with their child's physician to determine what integrative medicine options are available that may be helpful. There are so many different kinds of complementary therapies, it's important to learn about options to find an approach that will work best for each patient. I see first-hand every day the difference it can make in a child's life. Ninety-five percent of the parents of children who had used integrative treatment methods reported a positive experience. Asking your child's doctor can open the doors to a variety of treatment options available, alternative and conventional alike. If your doctor has little or no awareness about integrative or alternative medical options, don't hesitate to ask for a reference to another doctor who can provide and explain all of the options available, to obtain the best health care and a good quality of life for your child. 

Sources:

http://www.naturalnews.com/028499_alternative_medicine_parents.html

http://www.healthgrades.com/directory_search/physician/profiles/dr-md-reports/dr-timothy-culbert-md-a35f0e1a