Resultados de una encuesta nacional sobre conocimiento y uso de pseudociencias por parte de los pediatras
- Roi Piñeiro Pérez
- Esmeralda Núñez Cuadros
- Lourdes Cabrera García
- Ignacio Díez López
- Raquel Escrig Fernández
- María Ángeles Gil Lemus
- Santiago Manzano Blanco
- Belén Rodríguez Marrodán
- Cristina Calvo
ISSN: 1695-4033, 1696-4608
Year of publication: 2022
Volume: 96
Issue: 1
Pages: 25-34
Type: Article
More publications in: Anales de Pediatría: Publicación Oficial de la Asociación Española de Pediatría ( AEP )
Abstract
Introduction The use of certain Complementary and Alternative Medicines (CAM) in children has been documented in Spain. The main aim of this study is to estimate the knowledge, recommendations, and use of CAM by Spanish paediatricians. Material and methods A national study was conducted from June to July 2020 using an online questionnaire. Two e-mails were sent to paediatricians who were members of the Spanish Association of Paediatrics (AEP). Results Out of 1,414 responses received, acupuncture was considered as a science by 31.8%. Homeopathy was recommended to parents by 28.1%. CAM was used by 21.3% of physicians, at least once, to improve their own health. Only 3.8% had ever replaced a conventional treatment with CAM. The following variables were associated with a greater disposition to prescribe homeopathy: female, age over 45 years old, paediatricians working in Primary Care, and paediatricians working in private healthcare. Conclusions This AEP Committee on Medicines questionnaire provides new data that should be considered alarming and should ask for a serious thinking on the use of CAM in Spain. Some paediatricians are recommending parents to give treatments not supported by scientific evidence to their children. This practice could be potentially harmful, especially when conventional treatment is being replaced.