Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Treating Children\'s Diseases in Iran: A Systematic Review

Background: All across the world, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is frequently used to treat children. Due to the increasing use and tendency to complementary therapies in Iranian children.  Objectives: This systematic review aims to synthesize the existing evidence on the use of CAM t...

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Main Authors: Pouran Varvani Farahani, Candan Ozturk
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences 2024-10-01
Series:Journal of Pediatrics Review
Subjects:
Online Access:http://jpr.mazums.ac.ir/article-1-675-en.pdf
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author Pouran Varvani Farahani
Candan Ozturk
author_facet Pouran Varvani Farahani
Candan Ozturk
author_sort Pouran Varvani Farahani
collection DOAJ
description Background: All across the world, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is frequently used to treat children. Due to the increasing use and tendency to complementary therapies in Iranian children.  Objectives: This systematic review aims to synthesize the existing evidence on the use of CAM the treatment of children's diseases in Iran.  Methods: This was a systematic review study. A search was done on published clinical trials, qualitative, observational, and quasi-experimental studies from January 1, 2020, to January 3, 2023, in nine scientific research databases, namely PubMed, Science Direct, Wiley Online, Scopus, SciELO, LILACS, Google Scholar, Magiran, and SID. The keywords used in English were as follows = ((“Complementary medicine” OR “alternative medicine” OR “CAM” OR “integrative medicine” OR “traditional medicine” OR “herbal medicine” OR “acupuncture” OR “homeopathy” OR “cupping therapy” OR “massage therapy” OR “aromatherapy” OR “naturopathy” OR “spiritual healing” OR “larval practice” OR “music therapy” OR “reflexology”) AND (“pediatric” OR “child” OR “children” OR “adolescent” OR “infant”) AND (“Iran”) AND (“prevalence” OR “epidemiology” OR “frequency” OR “usage” OR “utilization” OR “incidence”)). Meanwhile, the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis guidelines were followed to ensure a rigorous and transparent review process. Results: The initial search yielded 865 articles. After removing duplicates and screening titles and abstracts, 808 were excluded for not meeting inclusion criteria, resulting in 26 full-text articles selected for the analysis. These studies examined a variety of CAM interventions, including mind-body techniques (e.g. music therapy, meditation), manipulative methods (e.g. massage, cupping therapy), and physiologically based therapies (e.g. herbal medicine, aromatherapy). CAM methods were most frequently employed to address various conditions, such as pain and anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms, respiratory distress syndrome, diabetes, functional constipation, sleep disorders, and cancer-related symptoms in children. The findings indicate a significant role of CAM therapies in symptom management and improving quality of life. Conclusions: AM modalities, particularly mind-body and physiologically based therapies, are frequently used among Iranian children to manage specific health conditions. Further research is recommended to evaluate CAM therapies’ safety, effectiveness, and interactions with conventional treatments to optimize integrated pediatric care in Iran.
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spelling doaj-art-ccb250b678314e83a0728d17947c65b32025-01-25T13:28:52ZengMazandaran University of Medical SciencesJournal of Pediatrics Review2322-43982322-44012024-10-01124329342Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Treating Children\'s Diseases in Iran: A Systematic ReviewPouran Varvani Farahani0Candan Ozturk1 Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Science, Cyprus International University, Nicosia, Northern Cyprus. Near East University, Faculty of Nursing, Mersin, Türkiye. Background: All across the world, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is frequently used to treat children. Due to the increasing use and tendency to complementary therapies in Iranian children.  Objectives: This systematic review aims to synthesize the existing evidence on the use of CAM the treatment of children's diseases in Iran.  Methods: This was a systematic review study. A search was done on published clinical trials, qualitative, observational, and quasi-experimental studies from January 1, 2020, to January 3, 2023, in nine scientific research databases, namely PubMed, Science Direct, Wiley Online, Scopus, SciELO, LILACS, Google Scholar, Magiran, and SID. The keywords used in English were as follows = ((“Complementary medicine” OR “alternative medicine” OR “CAM” OR “integrative medicine” OR “traditional medicine” OR “herbal medicine” OR “acupuncture” OR “homeopathy” OR “cupping therapy” OR “massage therapy” OR “aromatherapy” OR “naturopathy” OR “spiritual healing” OR “larval practice” OR “music therapy” OR “reflexology”) AND (“pediatric” OR “child” OR “children” OR “adolescent” OR “infant”) AND (“Iran”) AND (“prevalence” OR “epidemiology” OR “frequency” OR “usage” OR “utilization” OR “incidence”)). Meanwhile, the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis guidelines were followed to ensure a rigorous and transparent review process. Results: The initial search yielded 865 articles. After removing duplicates and screening titles and abstracts, 808 were excluded for not meeting inclusion criteria, resulting in 26 full-text articles selected for the analysis. These studies examined a variety of CAM interventions, including mind-body techniques (e.g. music therapy, meditation), manipulative methods (e.g. massage, cupping therapy), and physiologically based therapies (e.g. herbal medicine, aromatherapy). CAM methods were most frequently employed to address various conditions, such as pain and anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms, respiratory distress syndrome, diabetes, functional constipation, sleep disorders, and cancer-related symptoms in children. The findings indicate a significant role of CAM therapies in symptom management and improving quality of life. Conclusions: AM modalities, particularly mind-body and physiologically based therapies, are frequently used among Iranian children to manage specific health conditions. Further research is recommended to evaluate CAM therapies’ safety, effectiveness, and interactions with conventional treatments to optimize integrated pediatric care in Iran.http://jpr.mazums.ac.ir/article-1-675-en.pdfchildcomplementary therapiesmedicinetraditionalherbal medicinepediatric nursing
spellingShingle Pouran Varvani Farahani
Candan Ozturk
Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Treating Children\'s Diseases in Iran: A Systematic Review
Journal of Pediatrics Review
child
complementary therapies
medicine
traditional
herbal medicine
pediatric nursing
title Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Treating Children\'s Diseases in Iran: A Systematic Review
title_full Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Treating Children\'s Diseases in Iran: A Systematic Review
title_fullStr Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Treating Children\'s Diseases in Iran: A Systematic Review
title_full_unstemmed Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Treating Children\'s Diseases in Iran: A Systematic Review
title_short Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Treating Children\'s Diseases in Iran: A Systematic Review
title_sort complementary and alternative medicine in treating children s diseases in iran a systematic review
topic child
complementary therapies
medicine
traditional
herbal medicine
pediatric nursing
url http://jpr.mazums.ac.ir/article-1-675-en.pdf
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AT candanozturk complementaryandalternativemedicineintreatingchildrensdiseasesiniranasystematicreview