Use of complementary and alternative medicine by males with Duchenne or Becker muscular dystrophy

Sarah K. Nabukera, Paul A. Romitti, Kimberly A. Campbell, F. John Meaney, Kristin M. Caspers, Katherine D. Mathews, Stacey M.Hockett Sherlock, Soman Puzhankara, Christopher Cunniff, Charlotte M. Druschel, Shree Pandya, Dennis J. Matthews, Emma Ciafaloni

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

Use of complementary and alternative medicine by males with Duchenne or Becker muscular dystrophy was examined using interview reports from caregivers enrolled in the population-based Muscular Dystrophy Surveillance, Tracking, and Research Network. Of the 200 caregivers interviewed, 160 (80%) reported "ever" using complementary and alternative medicine for their affected children. Mind-body medicine (61.5%) was most frequently used, followed by biologically based practices (48.0%), manipulative and body-based practices (29.0%), and whole medical systems (8.5%). Caregivers reporting use of whole medical systems had higher education and income levels compared with nonusers; affected males had shorter disease duration. Caregivers reporting use of mind-body medicine, excluding aquatherapy, had higher education level compared with nonusers. Overall, complementary and alternative medicine use was high; disease duration, education, and income levels influenced use. These findings have implications for developing clinical care protocols and monitoring possible interactions between complementary and alternative medicine and conventional medical therapies.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)734-740
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Child Neurology
Volume27
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2012

Keywords

  • Becker
  • Duchenne
  • complementary and alternative medicine
  • muscular dystrophy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Clinical Neurology

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