Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use Among Allergy Practices: Results of a Nationwide Survey of Allergists

J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2018 Jan-Feb;6(1):95-98.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2017.01.017. Epub 2017 Mar 25.

Abstract

The use of complementary and alternative practices in the field of Allergy/Immunology is growing. A recent survey of American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology members examining patterns of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use and adverse effects from CAM revealed that a majority of practitioners (81% of respondents) had patients who are using CAM therapies over conventional treatments and many practitioners (60% of survey respondents) have encountered patients experiencing adverse reactions. During routine office visits, a majority of practitioners do not ask patients about CAM use, and when they do, most do not have a standard intake form to take a CAM history. There is a strong need to increase knowledge and improve measures to prevent adverse reactions to CAMs.

Keywords: Adverse reactions; Alternative medicine; Complementary medicine; Integrative medicine; Survey.

MeSH terms

  • Allergists
  • Asthma / epidemiology
  • Asthma / therapy*
  • Complementary Therapies / methods*
  • Female
  • Herbal Medicine
  • Humans
  • Hypersensitivity / epidemiology
  • Hypersensitivity / therapy*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians'
  • Probiotics / therapeutic use*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Vitamins / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Vitamins