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. 2013 Sep;50(3):237-243.
doi: 10.4274/npa.y6389. Epub 2013 Sep 1.

Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Multicenter Study

Ayhan Bilgiç  1 , Ayhan Cöngöloğlu  2 , Sabri Hergüner  1 , Serhat Türkoğlu  3 , Kayhan Bahali  4 , Kağan Gürkan  5 , İbrahim Durukan  2 , Tümer Türkbay  2
Affiliations

Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Multicenter Study

Ayhan Bilgiç et al. Noro Psikiyatr Ars. 2013 Sep.

Abstract
in English, Turkish

Introduction: This study examined the prevalence of the use of different complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) strategies, families' attitudes and belief systems about the use of these strategies, and the economic burden of these strategies placed on family income in families of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

Method: A questionnaire survey concerning the use of CAM in children with ASD was administered to parents in the five different geographic locations in Turkey.

Result: Of the 172 respondents, 56% had used at least one CAM therapy. The most frequently used CAM intervention was spiritual healing. Among the most reported reasons for seeking CAM were dissatisfaction with conventional interventions and a search for ways to enhance the effectiveness of conventional treatments. The most frequently reported source of recommendation for CAM was advice from family members. The mean economic burden of the CAM methods was a total of 4,005 Turkish lira ($2,670) in the sample using CAM. The CAM usage rate was lower in parents who suspected genetic/congenital factors for the development of ASD.

Conclusion: This study observed the importance of socioeconomic and cultural factors as well as parents' beliefs about the etiology of ASD in treatment decisions about CAM.

Giriş: Bu çalışmada otizm spektrum bozuklug̃u (OSB) olan çocuklarda tamamlayıcı ve alternatif tıp (TAT) uygulamalarının kullanım sıklıg̃ı, ailelerin bu uygulamalar hakkındaki tutum ve inançları ve bu uygulamaların aile bütçesine olan ekonomik yükü incelendi.

Yöntem: Bu amaçlara ulaşılması için Türkiye’nin beş farklı bölgesinde OSB’li çocuklarda TAT uygulamaları hakkında çocukların ebeveynlerine bir anket uygulandı.

Bulgular: Yüz yetmiş iki kişilik örneklemin %56’sının TAT uygulamalarını kullandıg̃ı saptandı. En sık kullanılan TAT yönteminin dua okutma oldug̃u belirlendi. TAT yöntemlerine başvurma nedeni olarak en sık konvansiyonel tedavilerin tatmin edici olmaması ve konvansiyonel tedavilerin etkinlig̃inin arttırılması isteg̃i gösterildi. TAT uygulamaları hakkında en fazla bilgi alınan kaynag̃ın ise aile bireyleri oldug̃u belirtildi. TAT uygulamalarını kullananlarda bu uygulamaların toplam maliyeti 4005 Türk lirası (2670 dolar) olarak belirlendi. TAT kullanım oranı OSB gelişimi açısından genetik/konjenital faktörleri suçlayanlarda daha düşüktü.

Sonuç: Bu çalışma sosyoekonomik ve kültürel faktörlerin ve ebeveynlerin OSB etiyolojisi hakkındaki inançlarının TAT yöntemlerine başvuru açısından önemini göstermektedir.

Keywords: Autism spectrum disorder; autism; complementary and alternative medicine; treatment.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: The authors reported no conflict of interest related to this article. Çıkar çatışması: Yazarlar bu makale ile ilgili olarak herhangi bir çıkar çatışması bildirmemişlerdir.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The frequency of complementary and alternative therapies used in children with autism spectrum disorders (%)
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