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. 2019 Jun;66(6):e27639.
doi: 10.1002/pbc.27639. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

Utilization of integrative medicine differs by age among pediatric oncology patients

Hyeongjun Yun  1 , Sally A D Romero  1 , Benjamin Record  1 , Julia Kearney  1 , Nirupa Jaya Raghunathan  1 , Stephen Sands  1 , Jun J Mao  1
Affiliations

Utilization of integrative medicine differs by age among pediatric oncology patients

Hyeongjun Yun et al. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2019 Jun.

Abstract

Purpose: Coping with symptoms related to cancer treatment is challenging for pediatric patients with cancer and their caregivers. Additionally, caring for pediatric patients requires specialized expertise to incorporate age-appropriate interventions to improve outcomes. Despite the increase in pediatric inpatient integrative medicine (IM) therapies, there is a paucity of knowledge about whether the utilization of IM therapies differs by patient age.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis on IM utilization among pediatric inpatients between 2008 and 2016 in a tertiary urban cancer center using electronic medical records. Multivariable logistic regression models examined the relationship between age and specific type of IM utilization, adjusting for specific demographic factors.

Results: Between 2008 and 2016, the pediatric inpatient IM service had 20 686 visits and treated 1877 unique patients. A significant age difference (P < 0.001) by modality was noted: dance therapy (mean age ± standard deviation: 5.9 ± 5.3 years), music therapy (8.0±7.0 years), mind-body therapies (13.0 ± 7.7 years), massage (14.5 ± 7.8 years), and acupuncture (20.0 ± 7.9 years). In multivariable analysis, the association between age and use of specific IM therapies remained significant (P < 0.001 for all).

Conclusion: Specific types of inpatient IM therapy usage significantly differed by the age of pediatric patients with cancer; therefore, designing and providing age-appropriate IM interventions with consideration for developmental stage are needed to ensure that the most appropriate and effective therapies are provided to children with cancer.

Keywords: acupuncture; child; dance therapy; inpatients; integrative medicine; massage; mind-body therapies; music therapy; pediatric oncology.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT: None declared.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1. Patients’ mean age by integrative medicine modality
This figure shows a significant age difference (p<0.001) by modality: dance therapy (mean age±standard deviation: 5.9±5.3 years), music therapy (8.0±7.0 years), mind-body therapies (13.0±7.7 years), massage (14.5±7.8 years), and acupuncture (20.0±7.9 years).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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