Pediatrics

Scope of Practice and Principles of Care of Naturopathic Medicine in North America: A Commentary

sana — Mon, 16 May 2022 20:30:18 +0000

Scope of Practice and Principles of Care of Naturopathic Medicine in North America: A Commentary sana Mon, 05/16/2022 - 16:30

Background:

settings Open AccessCommentary Scope of Practice and Principles of Care of Naturopathic Medicine in North America: A Commentary by Leslie Solomonian on behalf of the Pediatric Association of Naturopathic Physicians 91��, Toronto Campus, Toronto, ON M2K 1E2, Canada Academic Editors: Sari A. Acra and Kathleen L. Lemanek Children 2022, 9(1), 8; https://doi.org/10.3390/children9010008 Received: 30 August 2021 / Revised: 5 October 2021 / Accepted: 18 December 2021 / Published: 24 December 2021 (This article belongs to the Special Issue Pediatric Integrative Medicine: Expert Reviews and Advances) Download PDF Browse Figures Review Reports Citation Export Abstract Naturopathic medicine is a growing profession in North America that provides expertise in complementary and alternative, or integrative care to pediatric patients. It is imperative that healthcare providers have an understanding of the training and scope of other health professionals in order to effectively make decisions regarding research, collaborative clinical care, and policy. Given the prevalence of use of complementary and alternative medicine by children and families in North America, and the growing interest in “integrative” medicine, we aim to offer an overview of naturopathic care for children. This document describes the principles, training, and scope of naturopathic medicine, including health promotion, disease prevention, and illness management. It describes the process by which naturopathic doctors create an integrative healthcare plan for children, evaluate and apply evidence, and integrate ethical issues in practice management, and speaks to the role naturopathic doctors have regarding advocacy for community and planetary health as it relates to pediatrics.

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.3390/children9010008

Author

Leslie Solomonian

Citedate

2021-12-24

Citation

Solomonian, L. Scope of Practice and Principles of Care of Naturopathic Medicine in North America: A Commentary. Children 2022, 9, 8. https://doi.org/10.3390/children9010008

Publication

Children 2022, 9(1), 8

Taxonomy

Pediatrics

Characteristics of Pediatric and Adolescent Patients Attending a Naturopathic College Clinic in Canada.

Anonymous — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 15:42:02 +0000

Characteristics of Pediatric and Adolescent Patients Attending a Naturopathic College Clinic in Canada. Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 08/24/2021 - 11:42

OBJECTIVES: The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has grown substantially in North America and has drawn the attention of conventional-medicine practitioners. Conventional-medicine practitioners have expressed concern about the potential for unregulated CAM therapies to cause harm, the sometimes-uncertain cost-benefit ratios associated with these therapies, and the possibility that some CAM providers might advise against established conventional therapies, such as vaccination. These concerns are heightened with respect to the pediatric use of CAM products. To address this issue, we conducted a systematic audit of pediatric and adolescent case files at a large, college-based, Canadian naturopathic teaching clinic. We specifically sought to describe the demographic characteristics, reasons forpresentation, use of CAM products, and vaccinations status of children presenting for naturopathic assessment. We also determined factors associated with the use of CAM products and vaccination status. METHODS: We identified all charts for children (

Author

Wilson K, Busse JW, Gilchrist A, Vohra S, Boon H, Mills E.

Citedate

2005-01-01

Citation

Pediatrics, 2005;115(3).

Affiliations

University of Toronto

Publication

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/115/3/e338.long

Taxonomy

Pediatrics

Echinacea purpurea (L.) in children: safety, tolerability, compliance, clin. effectiveness in upper respiratory tract infections

Anonymous — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 15:41:59 +0000

Echinacea purpurea (L.) in children: safety, tolerability, compliance, clin. effectiveness in upper respiratory tract infections Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 08/24/2021 - 11:41

Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench was mistakenly taken from North America to Germany in 1939 where it was cultivated and various extractions were prepared and subsequently used to treat upper respiratory tract infections. Parents often administer Echinacea to their children, but safety data on the use of Echinacea in Canadian children is lacking. A screening history, physical examination, and daily record of symptoms from an initial visit through to a the follow-up visit 13 days later were used to increase patient safety. Each subject was administered an aerial part Echinacea extract. The dose was based on age (2.5 mL three times per day for children aged 2-5 years, and 5 mL two times per day for children aged 6-12 years) and administered for 10 days in an open-label trial. A rating scale was used to measure tolerance to the treatment. We assessed the safety and compliance of use of the Echinacea extract by measuring the amount of extract returned at the end of the study, having the parents complete and return a daily symptom diary, and recording the subjects' use of other natural health products or medications during the trial. Clinical effectiveness of the Echinacea extract could not be accurately assessed because of the small trial size and because the extract had been administered when some of the subjects had an upper respiratory tract infection that had begun 1 or more days prior to the study; however, each subject's symptoms improved. No allergic or adverse reaction occurred and no safety issues arose. PMID: 18066121

Author

Saunders PR, Smith F, Schusky RW.

Citedate

2007-01-01

Citation

Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 2007;85(11):1195-9.

Affiliations

91��

Publication

http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/Y07-103

Taxonomy

Pediatrics

The state of research on complementary and alternative medicine in pediatric rheumatology.

Anonymous — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 15:41:56 +0000

The state of research on complementary and alternative medicine in pediatric rheumatology. Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 08/24/2021 - 11:41

This article reviews available evidence on complementary and alternative medicine in pediatric rheumatology. Despite its common use in pediatric rheumatology (34%-92%), there is still uncertainty as to its efficacy and safety. Although results are promising for some treatments such as massage, acupuncture, mind-body interventions (eg, guided imagery and meditative breathing), and some natural health products (eg, calcium supplements and Tripterygium wilfordii), there is a need for high-quality trials investigating the long-term effects and underlying mechanisms of these therapies as well as research on their use in this population of patients.

Author

April KT, Walji R.

Citedate

2011-01-01

Citation

Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2011 Feb;37(1):85-94.

Affiliations

91��, University of Ottawa

Taxonomy

Pediatrics

Pediatric training and practice of Canadian chiropractic and naturopathic doctors: a 2004-2014 comparative study.

Anonymous — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 15:41:52 +0000

Pediatric training and practice of Canadian chiropractic and naturopathic doctors: a 2004-2014 comparative study. Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 08/24/2021 - 11:41

Background

To assess chiropractic (DC) and naturopathic doctors' (ND) knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour with respect to the pediatric patients in their practice.

Methods

Cross-sectional surveys were developed in collaboration with DC and ND educators. Surveys were sent to randomly selected DCs and NDs in Ontario, Canada in 2004, and a national online survey was conducted in 2014. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, non-parametric tests, and linear regression.

Results

Response rates for DCs were n = 172 (34%) in 2004, n = 553 (15.5%) in 2014, and for NDs, n = 171 (36%) in 2004, n = 162 (7%) in 2014. In 2014, 366 (78.4%) of DCs and 83 (61%) of NDs saw one or more pediatric patients per week. Pediatric training was rated as inadequate by most respondents in both 2004 and 2014, with most respondents (n = 643, 89.9%) seeking post-graduate training by 2014. Respondents' comfort in treating children and youth is based on experience and post-graduate training. Both DCs and NDs that see children and youth in their practices address a broad array of pediatric health concerns, from well child care and preventative health, to mild and serious illness.

Conclusions

Although the response rate in 2014 is low, the concerns identified a decade earlier remain. The majority of responding DCs and NDs see infants, children, and youth for a variety of health conditions and issues, but self-assess their undergraduate pediatric training as inadequate. We encourage augmented pediatric educational content be included as core curriculum for DCs and NDs and suggest collaboration with institutions/organizations with expertise in pediatric education to facilitate curriculum development, especially in areas that affect patient safety.

Author

Antony Porcino, Leslie Solomonian, Stephen Zylich, Brian Gluvic, Chantal Doucet and Sunita Vohra

Citedate

2017-12-01

Citation

BMC Complement Altern Med. 2017 Dec 1;17(1):512. doi: 10.1186/s12906-017-2024-5.

Publication

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Taxonomy

Pediatrics

Pediatric natural health products recommended by chiropractic and naturopathic doctors in Canada

Anonymous — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 15:41:51 +0000

Pediatric natural health products recommended by chiropractic and naturopathic doctors in Canada Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 08/24/2021 - 11:41

Objectives

To assess chiropractic (DC) and naturopathic doctors’ (ND) pediatric care natural health product (NHP) recommendations.

Design

Surveys were developed in collaboration with DC and ND educators, and delivered as an on-line national survey. NHP dose, form of delivery, and indications across pediatric age ranges (from newborn to 16 years) for each practitioner’s top five NHPs were assessed. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, and non-parametric tests.

Results

Of the 421 respondents seeing one or more pediatric patients per week, 172 (41%, 107 DCs, 65 NDs) provided 440 NHP recommendations, categorized as: vitamins and minerals (89 practitioners, 127 recommendations), probiotics (110 practitioners, 110 recommendations), essential fatty acids (EFAs: 72 practitioners, 72 recommendations), homeopathics (56 practitioners, 66 recommendations), botanicals (29 practitioners, 31 recommendations), and other NHPs (33 practitioners, 34 recommendations). Indications for the NHP recommendations were tabulated for NHPs with 10 or more recommendations in any age category: 596 total indications for probiotics, 318 indications for essential fatty acids, 138 indications for vitamin D, and 71 indications for multi-vitamins.

Conclusions

This is the first study documenting the pediatric NHP recommendations of two popular complementary medicine professions. Common NHPs at standard doses are the most frequently recommended products, with use and doses adjusted according to age. High-quality evidence regarding the efficacy, safety, and dosing for NHP use in children is scarce; development of evidence-informed pediatric guidelines is recommended, particularly for the most commonly used and recommended NHPs.

Author

Antony Joseph Porcino, Leslie Solomonian, Stephen Zylich, Chantal Doucet, Brian Gluvic, Sunita Vohra

Citedate

2019-02-04

Citation

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2019.02.001

Publication

Complementary Therapies in Medicine

Taxonomy

Pediatrics

Group-Based Naturopathic Education for Primary Prevention of Noncommunicable Disease in Families and Children: A Feasibility Study

Anonymous — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 15:41:49 +0000

Group-Based Naturopathic Education for Primary Prevention of Noncommunicable Disease in Families and Children: A Feasibility Study Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 08/24/2021 - 11:41

Objectives

Naturopathic medicine has demonstrated efficacy at reducing risk factors for chronic disease. Targeting health behaviors of parents and caregivers in a group-based setting may improve the behaviors of children in their care. This study sought to assess the feasibility of such a program.

Design

Participants of a six-session health education series were invited to respond to surveys and participate in a focus group about their health behaviors and their experience in the program.

Subjects

Caregivers of children aged 0–6 attending publicly funded community centers in Ontario, Canada.

Interventions

A 6-week group-based naturopathic education program to promote healthy lifestyle behaviors among caregivers.

Outcome measures

Satisfaction with content and delivery, and frequency of healthy behaviors.

Results

The majority of responses indicated satisfaction with the program, and an ongoing benefit 6 weeks and more after completion. There was a clear correlation between healthy behaviors of parents and children.

Conclusions

A group-based naturopathic education program may be a feasible method of delivering primary-prevention education to caregivers, particularly in the domains of practicality and acceptability.

Author

Leslie Solomonian, ND, Vivian Kwan, ND, and Sukriti Bhardwaj, BHSc (Hon)

Citedate

2019-07-21

Citation

Volume 25, Number 7, 2019, pp. 740–752

Publication

Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine

Taxonomy

Pediatrics