The use of prescription medicines and self-medication among children--a population-based study in Finland.
Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf
; 19(10): 1000-8, 2010 Oct.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-20712023
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:
The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and concomitant use of prescription medicines and self-medication, including over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins, and complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) among Finnish children aged under 12 years.METHODS:
We carried out a nationwide postal survey of the use of medicines by a representative sample (n = 6000) of Finnish children aged under 12 years in spring 2007. A response rate of 67% (n = 4032) was achieved. The current use of prescription medicines and the use of OTC medicines, vitamins, and CAMs in the preceding 2 days were the main outcome measures.RESULTS:
In total, 17% of children had used prescription medicines and 50% some self-medication. The corresponding figures for OTC medicines, vitamins, and CAMs use were 17, 37, and 11%, respectively. Drugs for obstructive airway diseases were the most common prescription medicines, whereas analgesics and antipyretics, including non-steroidal-anti-inflammatory-medicines (NSAID), were the most common OTC medicines reported. Vitamin D was the most common vitamin, while fish oils and fatty acids were the most common CAMs used. Ten percent of the children had used prescription medicines and self-medication concomitantly.CONCLUSIONS:
Most of the children's medication consists of self-medication, and especially of vitamin use. However, also a considerable proportion had used prescription medicines, and a minority prescription medicines and self-medication concomitantly. In three of the cases, a combination of prescription and OTC medicine with a potential risk for interactions were found. Physicians should be aware of this wide use of self-medication when prescribing medicines.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Inquéritos e Questionários
/
Revisão de Uso de Medicamentos
Tipo de estudo:
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Infant
/
Male
/
Newborn
País/Região como assunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf
Assunto da revista:
EPIDEMIOLOGIA
/
TERAPIA POR MEDICAMENTOS
Ano de publicação:
2010
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Finlândia