A cross-sectional survey of clinical factors that influence the use of traditional Korean medicine among children with cerebral palsy

Abstract

BackgroundTraditional Korean medicine (TKM) is widely used to treat children with cerebral palsy (CP) in Korea; however, studies investigating factors that influence the use of TKM are scarce. Thus, we investigated the clinical factors that might influence the use of TKM.MethodsA population-based, cross-sectional, multicenter survey was performed from August 2014 to May 2016. The history of TKM use, type and severity of CP, current treatment characteristics, presence of accompanying disabilities or other health problems not directly related to CP, and monthly cost for the treatment of CP were surveyed.ResultsIn total, 182 children were recruited, and 78 children (42.9%) had used TKM. Among these 78 children, 50 (64.1% of the TKM-use group) had used both acupuncture and herbal medication, 15 (19.2%) had used acupuncture only, and 13 (16.7%) had used herbal medication only. Children with non-typical CP, accompanying disabilities and general health problems tended to use TKM. The monthly cost of treatment for CP was significantly higher in the TKM-use group than that in the no-TKM-use group, suggesting that economically disadvantaged children may have difficulty in accessing TKM. Dietary supplements, conventional pharmacological treatments, and rehabilitation therapies did not affect TKM use.ConclusionChildren with non-typical symptoms or those with poor overall health status are likely to use TKM. Additionally, TKM use leads to increased treatment costs. Studies investigating the motivation for starting or ceasing TKM therapy, socioeconomic factors and the attitude of parents towards complementary and alternative medicine should be performed.

Integrated Rehabilitation for Children with Cerebral palsy: A Prospective Observational Study

“…19) We previously observed that children with non-spastic CP tended to use TKM more than those with spastic CP. 13) The present findings are consistent with these previous findings. This suggests that TKM is more accessible to patients with uncommon atonic, ataxic, or mixed CP than to those with spastic CP.…”

“…The added effect on combining TKM with conventional treatment should be investigated since the latter is currently administered as an adjuvant with conventional treatment. 13) This prospective, observational, and cross-sectional study examined factors affecting TKM use via survey administration following recruitment. 13) Patients with non-spastic-type CP or other health problems tended to be high-frequency users of TKM.…”

“…13) This prospective, observational, and cross-sectional study examined factors affecting TKM use via survey administration following recruitment. 13) Patients with non-spastic-type CP or other health problems tended to be high-frequency users of TKM. These results suggest that atypical patients, or patients with difficult-to-treat conditions, tend to seek TKM.…”

Safety of Herbal Medicines in Children

“…Children with neuropsychiatric diseases use herbal medicine about 35.4% [24]. The elementary school-age children in South Korea have epileptic problems ~17.2% and they use herbal medicine at high range varying from 65.2% to 67.8% [25]. In Turkey, the prevalence of pediatric use of herbal drugs was 58.6% [26].…”