Dosage Forms Suitability in Pediatrics: Acceptability of Antibiotics in a German Hospital.

Although drug acceptability can have a significant impact on patient adherence in pediatric therapy, data are limited, even for common therapeutic areas. We present the second part of an acceptability study conducted at the University Children's Hospital Düsseldorf, Germany. The study investigated the acceptability of most commonly used antibiotics in a pediatric hospital setting. The researchers used the acceptability reference framework to score the acceptability of five antibiotics based on 150 real-life observer reports of medicine intake. Four antibiotics assessed in this study were formulated as preparations for injection (ampicillin, ampicillin/sulbactam, ceftriaxone, and gentamicin) and one as a powder for oral liquid suspension (co-amoxiclav). All the antibiotics formulated as preparations for injection were rated negatively due to high rates of negative reactions (80%), the use of restraint (51%), the use of extra devices (99%), and long preparation and administration times (100%). The antibiotic formulated as a powder was significantly more well accepted. The study concluded that there is a lack of appropriate formulations for antibiotics for use in children. These findings are important in improving knowledge on acceptability drivers and might help in formulating and prescribing better medicines for children. The study highlights the need for healthcare professionals to have knowledge about the acceptability of different products to select the best-adapted product for each patient.

Dosage Forms Suitability in Pediatrics: Acceptability of Analgesics and Antipyretics in a German Hospital.

Although medicine acceptability is likely to have a significant impact on the patient's adherence in pediatrics and therefore on therapy success, there is still little data even for common therapeutic areas. For analgesics/antipyretics, healthcare professionals face a wide variety of products and need knowledge to select the best adapted product for each patient. We investigated acceptability of those products most used at the University Children's Hospital Düsseldorf, Germany. Based on 180 real-life observer reports of medicine intake, we used the acceptability reference framework to score acceptability of six distinct medicines. Both ibuprofen and paracetamol tablets, mainly used in adolescents, were positively accepted. This was not the case for the solution for injection of metamizole sodium. Regarding syrups, mainly used in children under 6 years of age, ibuprofen flavored with strawberry and provided with an oral syringe was positively accepted, while paracetamol flavored with orange and provided with a measuring cup was not. Suppository appeared to be an alternative to oral liquids in infants and toddlers with palatability and administration issues. Differences appeared to be driven by dosage forms and formulations. These findings improve knowledge on acceptability drivers and might help formulating and prescribing better medicines for children.