PARENTS’ PERSPECTIVES ON COMPLEMENTARY, ALTERNATIVE, AND UNPROVEN TREATMENTS FOR CHILDREN WITH MEDICAL COMPLEXITY

Research highlights the widespread adoption of com­plementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and other unproven treatments among children with chronic ill­nesses. These include practices such as massage, animal-assisted therapy, art therapy, dietary supplements, herbal remedies, and stem cell treatments. The effectiveness and safety of many CAM methods and unproven treatments not clinically validated, posing concerns for children with complex medical conditions. This study investigates parents’ perspectives on using CAM and unproven tre­atments for their children with complex medical needs. It aims to provide insights into their decision-making processes and viewpoints in pediatric healthcare. Design and methods: Semi-structured interviews conducted with 11 parents of children with complex medical conditions. The data from these interviews analyzed using an inter­pretive description methodology.

Results: The lived experiences of 11 families led to the identification of the following common themes: the per­ceived ineffectiveness of traditional medicine, sacrifices made for a child’s treatment, support from family and society, disapproval from medical professionals, and ob­served positive outcomes from the treatment.