Kathi J. Kemper, M.D., a pediatrician at Brenner Children’s Hospital, part of Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, led the study. Pediatricians surveyed cited lack of knowledge about alternative medicine, concerns about side effects, or delays in seeking necessary medical care as the primary reasons they were resistant to recommending CAM therapies as treatment options, according to Kemper and her colleagues.

Don't Ask, Don't Tell?

“Fewer than 5 percent said they were knowledgeable about CAM therapies, and the majority were only somewhat familiar with widely used therapies such as dietary supplements, chiropractic or massage therapies,” Kemper said.

Nearly all the pediatricians in the survey acknowledged that they ask more than 75 percent of their patients about the use of prescription and nonprescription medications during routine office visits. However, a substantially smaller group reported making regular inquiries about such alternative medicine practices as the use of herbs (20 percent), special diets (17 percent) or dietary supplements (17 percent). Fewer than 5 percent asked about care from chiropractors, massage therapists, acupuncturists or other mind-body therapists.

“We found that pediatricians were far more likely to recommend medications than any CAM therapy, and many wanted additional information regarding herbal and dietary supplements, nutritional therapies and therapeutic exercise to feel more comfortable about the therapies before recommending them to their patients,” she said.

Patients Want to Know

Yet, many patients were seeking information about alternative medicine options during routine visits, Kemper said. The survey showed that 87 percent of patients had asked their pediatrician about CAM therapies in the past three months.

Despite their reservations to recommend alternative medicine, 34 percent of pediatricians surveyed stated that they or a family member had used these CAM therapies in the past year.

“More than 60 percent of pediatricians surveyed felt that CAM therapies could enhance recovery or relieve symptoms,” Kemper said. “However, we need to provide resources for pediatricians to help educate them about the pros and cons of individual CAM therapies to allow them to answer their patient’s questions and plan their treatment.”

The national survey was sent to over 750 active members of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Kemper is currently conducting a National Institutes of Health-funded study to assess the best way to educate clinicians about herbs and dietary supplements using the Internet.