• Tycho J Zuzak, Johanna Boňková, Domenico Careddu, Miklós Garami, Adamos Hadjipanayis, Janez Jazbec, Joav Merrick, Joyce Miller, Candan Ozturk, Ingrid A L Persson, Guenka Petrova, Pablo Saz Peiró, Simon Schraub, A Paula Simões-Wüst, Aslak Steinsbekk, Karin Stockert, Assena Stoimenova, Jan Styczynski, Alexandra Tzenova-Savova, Søren Ventegodt, Arine M Vlieger, and Alfred Längler.
• Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, University Children's Hospital Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, D-45147 Essen, Germany. tycho.zuzak@uk-essen.de
• Complement Ther Med. 2013 Apr 1; 21 Suppl 1: S34-47.

IntroductionFew data document the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in Europe, with even fewer investigating use by children.MethodsA narrative, non-systematic review of CAM use in Europe was performed by combining data from published surveys with expert perspectives. Limitations created by a lack of representative studies, varying definitions of CAM use, and what qualifies as CAM in different countries was partially overcome by integrating local experts to summarise information available only in the national language and provide their perspectives about CAM availability, quality, use and popularity in their countries using a semi-structured questionnaire. Local and international published surveys were summarised, and the prevalence of CAM use was extrapolated.ResultsData from 20 European countries were available, representing 69% of the European population. Some data about CAM use by the general population were available for 90% of the examined countries, whereas peer-reviewed published surveys were available for only 60%. We extrapolated that 56% (range: 10-90%, adjusted for population size) of the European population in general had used CAM at least once in the past year. Surveys in CAM use by children were available for 55% of the investigated countries. The extrapolated prevalence of CAM use by children in Europe was 52% (range: 5-90%, adjusted for population size). Paediatric CAM experts reported an increasing awareness for and use of CAM in healthcare institutions.ConclusionThis precursor for further surveys indicates that CAM appears to be popular not only among adults in Europe, but also for children. Development of a pan-European definition of CAM use and CAM therapies are required to achieve surveys comparable between European countries. Additionally, more research investigating the efficacy and potential adverse effects of CAM therapies is needed because of increasing CAM use by children in Europe.Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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