Hannan Nicole, Steel Amie, McMillan Sara S, Tiralongo Evelin
School of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, Australia.
Faculty of Health, Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia.
Front Pediatr. 2020 Apr 17;8:147. doi: 10.3389/fped.2020.00147. eCollection 2020.
The incidence and the prevalence of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) are increasing, and healthcare utilization among children with EoE is high. This study provides novel insights into the health services and the treatments, including complementary medicines (CMs), used by carers to manage their children's EoE as well as the carers' beliefs and attitudes toward these treatments. A national cross-sectional online survey was conducted in Australia between September 2018 and February 2019. The survey included questions about health service and treatment utilization, health insurance and government support, health-related quality of life of children with EoE and their carers, views and attitudes toward CM use, and perceived efficacy of treatment. The survey was completed by 181 carers (96.6% of whom were mothers) of EoE children. Most children (91.2%, = 165) had seen a medical doctor for their EoE, and almost half had consulted with a CM practitioner (40.3%, = 73). Pharmaceuticals ( = 156, 86.2%) were the most commonly used treatment option, followed by dietary changes ( = 142, 78.5%), CM products ( = 109, 60.2%), and CM therapies ( = 42, 23.2%). Most children received care from numerous practitioners on multiple occasions, indicating a substantial financial and treatment-related burden. A variety of practitioners are involved in the care of children with EoE, and a high rate of CM use warrants further attention to ensure that appropriate treatment is provided. Carer involvement and guidance, combined with individual practitioner expertise, referrals, and collaboration between providers, is essential to successfully navigate this complex disease and provide adequate care for these patients.
嗜酸性粒细胞性食管炎（EoE）的发病率和患病率正在上升，EoE患儿的医疗保健利用率很高。本研究为护理人员用于管理其子女EoE的卫生服务和治疗方法（包括补充药物（CMs））以及护理人员对这些治疗方法的信念和态度提供了新的见解。2018年9月至2019年2月在澳大利亚进行了一项全国性横断面在线调查。该调查包括有关卫生服务和治疗利用情况、健康保险和政府支持、EoE患儿及其护理人员的健康相关生活质量、对使用CMs的看法和态度以及治疗的感知疗效等问题。181名EoE患儿的护理人员（其中96.6%为母亲）完成了该调查。大多数患儿（91.2%，n = 165）因EoE看过医生，近一半患儿咨询过CM从业者（40.3%，n = 73）。药物（n = 156，86.2%）是最常用的治疗选择，其次是饮食改变（n = 142，78.5%）、CM产品（n = 109，60.2%）和CM疗法（n = 42，23.2%）。大多数患儿多次接受众多从业者的护理，这表明存在巨大的经济和治疗负担。多种从业者参与了EoE患儿的护理，CM的高使用率值得进一步关注，以确保提供适当的治疗。护理人员的参与和指导，结合个体从业者的专业知识、转诊以及提供者之间的协作，对于成功应对这种复杂疾病并为这些患者提供充分护理至关重要。
