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Parents’ knowledge and choice of paracetamol dosing forms in 3‐ to 6‐year‐old children
Author(s) -
Helgadóttir Helga Lára,
Wilson Margaret E.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of caring sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.678
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1471-6712
pISSN - 0283-9318
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-6712.2006.00492.x
Subject(s) - suppository , medicine , dosing , pharmacy , antipyretic , family medicine , pediatrics , anesthesia , analgesic , pharmacology
Paracetamol is one of the most common medicines administered to children and is available in suppositories, mixtures, drops and tablets. Orally administered paracetamol is more rapidly and completely absorbed and is, in general, more acceptable to children. In Iceland, the most common route of paracetamol administration is per rectum. The purpose of the study was to explore parents’ knowledge and usage of paracetamol for 3‐ to 6‐year‐old children. Parents (n = 103) of children in four playschools in Reykjavík participated in this survey research. Paracetamol was most commonly administered via suppository. Some parents were unaware of oral forms of paracetamol and had been advised by doctors, nurses or pharmacy staff to use suppositories. This study provides basic information needed to design appropriate parental education in pain and fever management.