The effect of a theory of planned behavior-based education model on self-management and metabolic control in pregnant women with gestational diabetes: a randomized controlled trial.

Disorders of the gut–brain interaction (DGBI) comprise a wide array of diagnoses, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), functional dyspepsia (FD), abdominal migraine, and functional abdominal pain not otherwise specified (FAP‐NOS) and non‐pain predominant disorders (cyclic vomiting syndrome, functional constipation, and functional nausea/vomiting). In a US survey of mothers, about 25% of children and adolescents met Rome IV criteria for a DGBI. DGBI are prevalent and associated with disability and reduced psychosocial functioning. In the pediatric population, this can be linked to long‐term disability, school absenteeism, and anxiety/depression. Traditional pharmacologic management has been associated with suboptimal outcomes and a risk for adverse events. Thus, complimentary, alternative, and integrative medical (CAIM) therapies have been increasingly recognized. Integrative medicine (IM) is defined as holistic, patient‐centered medical care that seeks to improve healing by recognizing the physical, psychological, and spiritual needs of patients. It incorporates both Western medicine and traditional Eastern medicine techniques. IM has been increasing in both demand and research on the past decade. In fact, trends in research output for IM have doubled in the past decade. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the desire for IM within the pediatric population is driven by increasing trends in children and adolescents with chronic diseases and a desire to decrease pharmacologic burden. IM has been promising in pediatric patients with chronic pain and disorders of gut‐brain interaction. However, the exact trend in use of IM in pediatric DGBI patients is less well known. This study sought to explore trends in CAIM and IM usage in a pediatric DGBI clinic. After obtaining institutional review board approval (IRB# 2021‐0844), electronic medical records including demographics and medical history of patients aged 6–21 years seen at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center multidisciplinary DGBI clinic between 2017 and 2022 were reviewed. Patients who met the Rome IV criteria for a DGBI were included, while patients with organic GI disorders were excluded. The use of IM was evaluated by reviewing clinical documentation. The integrative treatments utilized were peppermint oil, caraway oil, nausea relief wristbands, herbal teas, acupressure, acupuncture, aromatherapy, and WebMAP, a digital pain‐coping app.). We recorded the frequency of different integrative treatments used by patients, their demographics, diagnoses, and symptoms. Analysis was done with Chi‐square and Fisher's exact test for categorical values and Wilcoxon rank‐sum test for continuous data.