Survey Results

Survey Items: CCO_USEM; CCO_USM; CMS_USEM; CMS_USM; CAC_USEM; CAC_USM; CEH_USEM; CEH_USM; CNT_USEM; CNT_USM; CHY_USEM; CHY_USM; CBI_USEM; CBI_USM; CAY_USEM; CAY_USM; CCH_USEM; CCH_USM; CCS_USEM; CCS_USM; CTRU_NAH; CTRU_SHA; CTRU_CUR; CTRU_YER; CTRU_SOB; CTRU_HUE; CMVP_FLD; CMV_FLD; CMVP_ALX; CMV_ALX; CMVE_PIL; CMVP_PIL; CMVE_TPI; CMVP_TPI

Denominator: Children age 4-17 years

Numerator: Children who used one or more CAM services in the past 12 months; Children who did NOT use CAM services in the past 12 months

Revisions and Changes: The 2007 Child CAM supplement asked questions of all sample children, regardless of age, while the 2012 Child CAM supplement excluded children under the age of 4. Analysts who are interested in comparing estimates from 2007 to 2012 should take this difference into account in their analysis.
In 2007, the survey asked only whether the child has seen a practitioner for provider-based therapies. It did not ask about use of those modalities if the child had not seen a practitioner.

Additional Notes: The 34 specific CAM modalities are grouped into 3 non-mutually exclusive categories: services, products, and practices. CAM services include acupuncture, Ayurveda, biofeedback, chelation, chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation, energy healing therapy, hypnosis, massage, naturopathy, craniosacral therapy, traditional healers (Native American healer or Medicine man, Shaman, Curandero/MachiParchero, Yerbero or Hierbista, Sobador, Huesero) , and movement or exercise techniques (Feldenkrais, Alexander technique, Pilates, Trager psychophysical integration). Specific types of traditional healers and movement therapies were counted as individual CAM modalities.
Children's use of CAM services in the past 12 months was defined using two survey items for chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation, massage, acupuncture, energy healing therapy, naturopathy, hypnosis, biofeedback, Ayurveda, chelation, craniosacral therapy, and movement and exercise techniques: (1) child saw a practitioner OR (2) child used in the past 12 months.

Treatment of Unknown Values: Unknown values (responses coded as 'refused', 'don't know', or ‘not ascertained’) are not included in the denominator when calculating prevalence estimates and weighted population counts displayed in the data query results table. Respondents who did not provide a response to any of the questions within the Child CAM Supplement were coded as “not ascertained” (n=195, 1.9% of sample children aged 4-17 years). Weighted population counts are underestimates due to both item nonresponse and unknowns, both of which are excluded from the counts.

History and Development: The Child Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) questionnaire, developed by National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) in collaboration with National Center for Health Statistics was fielded in the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) as a supplement in 2007 and 2012. NHIS has been conducted annually since 1957 and the content of the survey has been updated every 10-15 years. The Child CAM survey instrument was developed based on extensive literature reviews, expert panel input and cognitive interviewing method. Previously validated questions and scales are used when available. In addition to these, the 2012 CAM Supplement questionnaire was updated based on qualitative analysis of the 2007 data and a series of focus groups with experts and family leaders. Respondents’ cognitive understanding of the survey questions is assessed during the pretest phase and revisions made as required. All final data components are verified by NCHS staff prior to public release. For more information about the survey development click here.