Utilization of Complementary Medicine by Pediatric Neurology Patients and Their Families in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Introduction Complementary medicine (CM) consumption is a common practice worldwide. The objective of this study is to find the prevalence of parents visiting the neurology clinic who utilize CM to treat their children. Methods This is a cross-sectional study that was done at King Abdullah Specialized Children Hospital (KASCH), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between 2018 and 2019. By using a self-administered questionnaire, data were collected to recognize the prevalence of using CM and to identify the commonest type or method. Results A total of 352 parents were given the questionnaire. The prevalence of CM usage among participant was 42%, the most common type of CM was Quran recitation at 66%, followed by herbal medicine at 30% and cautery at 26%. Conclusion Almost half of the parents who visited the neurology clinic at KASCH have used complementary medicine for their children, and nearly three-quarters of the parents who never used CM have thought about using it. Therefore, CM is common in the Saudi Arabian culture.