Guidelines on Developing Consumer Information on Proper Use of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine: 4. Topics to Consider when Developing Consumer Information Promoting Proper Use of TM/CAM: 4.4 TM/CAM medication therapies: 4.4.11 Children, pregnant or lactating women and the elderly

Guidelines on Developing Consumer Information on Proper Use of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine
(2004; 109 pages)

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements
Foreword
Preface
Glossary
1. General Considerations
	1.1 The benefits of TM/CAM
	1.2 The risks involved in the use of TM/CAM
	1.3 Proper use of TM/CAM by consumers
	1.4 Additional important aspects for the proper use of TM/CAM
2. Development of Consumer Information
	2.1 Cultural influence
	2.2 Health system structure
	2.3 Utilization
3. General Principles and Activities for Ensuring Reliable TM/CAM Information
	3.1 How to develop reliable information
	3.2 Dissemination of information
		3.2.1 TM/CAM information centre
		3.2.2 TM/CAM surveillance system
		3.2.3 The media
		3.2.4 Other information activities
		3.2.5 Activities promoting rational use of medicines
	3.3 Regulatory mechanisms for information and advertisements
4. Topics to Consider when Developing Consumer Information Promoting Proper Use of TM/CAM
	4.1 General information
	4.2 Where to find reliable information
	4.3 How to identify reliable information
	4.4 TM/CAM medication therapies
		4.4.1 Therapeutic claims
		4.4.2 Quality
		4.4.3 Precautions
		4.4.4 Adverse events
		4.4.5 Potent and/or toxic TM/CAM medication therapies
		4.4.6 Interactions and contraindications
		4.4.7 Posology
		4.4.8 Methods of administration
		4.4.9 Self-medication
		4.4.10 Preparation of TM/CAM medication therapies
		4.4.11 Children, pregnant or lactating women and the elderly
	4.5 Procedure-based TM/CAM therapies
		4.5.1 Therapeutic claims
		4.5.2 Precautions
	4.6 Practitioners
	4.7 Pricing and health insurance coverage
5. Use of this Publication
References
Annexes
	Annex I. Leaflets Promoting Proper Use of TM/CAM Published by the Department of Health, Hong Kong SAR, China
	Annex II. Things to Know about Evaluating Medical Resources on the Internet*
	Annex III Medical Products on the Internet: A Guide to Finding Reliable Information
	Annex IV Licence Symbol, Swissmedic¹
	Annex V. Selected WHO Publications and Documents on Traditional Medicine
	Annex VI. List of Participants
Back Cover

4.4.11 Children, pregnant or lactating women and the elderly

Consumers need to be aware that decisions about medical care and treatment are best made in consultation with a health care provider. In particular, children, pregnant or lactating women or the elderly should always pay special attention and consult a health care provider and/or authorized TM/CAM practitioner before using any TM/CAM therapy. In the case of medication therapy, children and the elderly often require a different dosage than normally prescribed for adults. Meanwhile pregnant women may risk their own and/or their baby’s health by using certain TM/CAM therapies, due to known or unknown side effects (17).

Information should emphasize that:

• Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should consult an authorized TM/CAM practitioner before using any TM/CAM therapy.

• Where conventional health care is accessible, communication with the conventional health care provider about TM/CAM use needs to be particularly emphasized in the case of children, pregnant or lactating women and the elderly.