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Who Dispenses Pharmaceuticals to Children at School?
Author(s) -
Francis Elaine Esielionis,
Hemmat Joanna Persis,
Treloar Donna M.,
Yarandi Hossein
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of school health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.851
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1746-1561
pISSN - 0022-4391
DOI - 10.1111/j.1746-1561.1996.tb03390.x
Subject(s) - medical prescription , medicine , socioeconomic status , family medicine , methylphenidate , medical school , public health , pediatrics , environmental health , psychiatry , nursing , medical education , population , attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Use of both prescription and non‐prescription pharmaceuticals has increased among children. Many of these drugs are taken during school hours and dispensed by school personnel who are not health professionals. They know little or nothing about the drugs themselves or the medical conditions requiring their use. This survey examined the extent to which pharmaceuticals are dispensed in schools in one Florida county. Public elementary, middle, and high schools and six private schools were surveyed for one week. All medications dispensed by school personnel during that time were recorded. Of 28,134 children surveyed, 1,016 children received 5,411 doses of medication. Thirty‐one categories of drugs were dispensed including controlled substances. Methylphenidate was the most widely dispensed drug, comprising about half of all the medications given in school. Medication use was evaluated in terms of gender, race, and socioeconomic status of the children.