Trade-offs from a family perspective: considerations in choosing between omalizumab and complementary alternative medicine for pediatric severe asthma

The management of pediatric severe asthma poses significant challenges for families. When faced with the choice between targeted biologics like omalizumab and widely used complementary alternative medicine (CAM), families navigate a complex decision-making process influenced by multiple factors. Thi...

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Main Authors: Hang Chen, Yan Xu, Jian-Li Qiu, Zhi-Wei Guan, Mu-Mu Wei, Yi Zhang, Ji-Xiang Xu, Hong-Tao Cui
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Pharmacology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1621101/full
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author Hang Chen
Yan Xu
Yan Xu
Jian-Li Qiu
Jian-Li Qiu
Zhi-Wei Guan
Zhi-Wei Guan
Mu-Mu Wei
Mu-Mu Wei
Yi Zhang
Yi Zhang
Ji-Xiang Xu
Hong-Tao Cui
author_facet Hang Chen
Yan Xu
Yan Xu
Jian-Li Qiu
Jian-Li Qiu
Zhi-Wei Guan
Zhi-Wei Guan
Mu-Mu Wei
Mu-Mu Wei
Yi Zhang
Yi Zhang
Ji-Xiang Xu
Hong-Tao Cui
author_sort Hang Chen
collection DOAJ
description The management of pediatric severe asthma poses significant challenges for families. When faced with the choice between targeted biologics like omalizumab and widely used complementary alternative medicine (CAM), families navigate a complex decision-making process influenced by multiple factors. This review adopts a family-centered perspective to systematically analyze key factors influencing this trade-off: treatment goals (extending beyond clinical metrics to focus on quality of life), risk perception (shaped by subjective constructs and lacking direct evidence for comparative risk assessments), treatment burden (often overlooked hidden costs), and the current state of shared decision-making (SDM). Analysis reveals that family decision-making is a multidimensional construct shaped by four core elements: value systems, lived experiences, risk perception patterns, and tolerance for treatment burden. Notably, the significant gap in risk perception evidence leads to subjective risk assessments dominating decisions, particularly in CAM choices. Treatment burden, a critical hidden cost, is often marginalized in decisions, hindering effective SDM. Health equity further profoundly impacts choices. The conclusion emphasizes the need for clinical practice to shift toward family-centered care by addressing real-world needs, routinely evaluating treatment burden, optimizing risk communication, overcoming SDM barriers, and promoting health equity. Future research must fill evidence gaps in risk perception, develop SDM tools, and address culturally diverse family needs.
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spelling doaj-art-a76bc54854704ca8bfe93958ce03b81c2025-08-20T02:46:28ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122025-07-011610.3389/fphar.2025.16211011621101Trade-offs from a family perspective: considerations in choosing between omalizumab and complementary alternative medicine for pediatric severe asthmaHang Chen0Yan Xu1Yan Xu2Jian-Li Qiu3Jian-Li Qiu4Zhi-Wei Guan5Zhi-Wei Guan6Mu-Mu Wei7Mu-Mu Wei8Yi Zhang9Yi Zhang10Ji-Xiang Xu11Hong-Tao Cui12School of Pediatrics, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, ChinaSchool of Pediatrics, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, ChinaDepartment of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, ChinaSchool of Pediatrics, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, ChinaDepartment of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, ChinaSchool of Pediatrics, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, ChinaDepartment of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, ChinaSchool of Pediatrics, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, ChinaDepartment of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, ChinaSchool of Pediatrics, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, ChinaDepartment of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, ChinaSchool of Pediatrics, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, ChinaChongqing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing, ChinaThe management of pediatric severe asthma poses significant challenges for families. When faced with the choice between targeted biologics like omalizumab and widely used complementary alternative medicine (CAM), families navigate a complex decision-making process influenced by multiple factors. This review adopts a family-centered perspective to systematically analyze key factors influencing this trade-off: treatment goals (extending beyond clinical metrics to focus on quality of life), risk perception (shaped by subjective constructs and lacking direct evidence for comparative risk assessments), treatment burden (often overlooked hidden costs), and the current state of shared decision-making (SDM). Analysis reveals that family decision-making is a multidimensional construct shaped by four core elements: value systems, lived experiences, risk perception patterns, and tolerance for treatment burden. Notably, the significant gap in risk perception evidence leads to subjective risk assessments dominating decisions, particularly in CAM choices. Treatment burden, a critical hidden cost, is often marginalized in decisions, hindering effective SDM. Health equity further profoundly impacts choices. The conclusion emphasizes the need for clinical practice to shift toward family-centered care by addressing real-world needs, routinely evaluating treatment burden, optimizing risk communication, overcoming SDM barriers, and promoting health equity. Future research must fill evidence gaps in risk perception, develop SDM tools, and address culturally diverse family needs.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1621101/fullpediatric severe asthmafamily perspectiveomalizumabcomplementary alternative medicine (CAM)treatment decision-makingrisk perception
spellingShingle Hang Chen
Yan Xu
Yan Xu
Jian-Li Qiu
Jian-Li Qiu
Zhi-Wei Guan
Zhi-Wei Guan
Mu-Mu Wei
Mu-Mu Wei
Yi Zhang
Yi Zhang
Ji-Xiang Xu
Hong-Tao Cui
Trade-offs from a family perspective: considerations in choosing between omalizumab and complementary alternative medicine for pediatric severe asthma
Frontiers in Pharmacology
pediatric severe asthma
family perspective
omalizumab
complementary alternative medicine (CAM)
treatment decision-making
risk perception
title Trade-offs from a family perspective: considerations in choosing between omalizumab and complementary alternative medicine for pediatric severe asthma
title_full Trade-offs from a family perspective: considerations in choosing between omalizumab and complementary alternative medicine for pediatric severe asthma
title_fullStr Trade-offs from a family perspective: considerations in choosing between omalizumab and complementary alternative medicine for pediatric severe asthma
title_full_unstemmed Trade-offs from a family perspective: considerations in choosing between omalizumab and complementary alternative medicine for pediatric severe asthma
title_short Trade-offs from a family perspective: considerations in choosing between omalizumab and complementary alternative medicine for pediatric severe asthma
title_sort trade offs from a family perspective considerations in choosing between omalizumab and complementary alternative medicine for pediatric severe asthma
topic pediatric severe asthma
family perspective
omalizumab
complementary alternative medicine (CAM)
treatment decision-making
risk perception
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1621101/full
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