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National cross‐sectional study of nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs use highlights differences between parents and professionals and prompts safety concerns
Author(s) -
Bertille Nathalie,
Pons Gérard,
FournierCharrière Elisabeth,
Khoshnood Babak,
Chalumeau Martin
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
acta paediatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/apa.13566
Subject(s) - medicine , health professionals , cross sectional study , medical prescription , rash , family medicine , nonsteroidal , over the counter , health care , odds ratio , pediatrics , nursing , pathology , economics , economic growth
Aim Controversy surrounding the safety of nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs ( NSAID s) provides an opportunity to study parents’ and healthcare professionals’ differential use of over‐the‐counter drugs. Methods In this national cross‐sectional study, general practitioners, paediatricians and pharmacists were asked to include up to five consecutive febrile paediatric patients aged 1 month to 12 years. Parents and healthcare professionals completed questionnaires about the current fever episode. We studied the differential use of NSAID s by parents and healthcare professionals notably in three clinical conditions with various estimated risk of NSAID s complications: varicella, gastroenteritis and pharyngitis. Results The 1534 healthcare professionals prescribed 15% of the 6596 children with an NSAID , but 32% of the parents gave their child an NSAID . Generally, NSAID use was associated with older children, higher temperatures, pain due to otitis and the absence of a rash or gastroenteritis. The differential use of NSAID s by parents and professionals was greater in conditions with high than low estimated risks of NSAID complications, with odds ratios ranging from to 9.0 to 2.9, respectively. Conclusion The differential use of NSAID s by healthcare professionals and parents for clinical conditions with potential risks should prompt discussions about the safety of their over‐the‐counter status.