European journal of clinical pharmacology
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Eur. J. Clin. Pharmacol. · Dec 2012
Epidemiology and potential associated risk factors of drug-related problems in hospitalised children in the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia.
Drug-related problems (DRP) are "an event or circumstance involving drug therapy that actually or potentially interferes with the desired health outcome". The extent and characteristics of DRPs in children in the UK and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) are unknown. Our aim was to determine the epidemiology of and identify risk factors for DRPs in hospitalised children. ⋯ Drug-related problems were common in the hospitalised children in this study; the most frequent were dosing problems and drug choice problems; the majority of them were preventable. Polypharmacy and transferred admission (another hospital or ward) were potential risk factors. To improve prescribing practices and minimise the risk of DRPs in hospitalised children, paediatric pharmacology and pharmacotherapy are important in medical education.
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Eur. J. Clin. Pharmacol. · Dec 2012
Complementary or alternative? Patterns of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among Finnish children.
The aim of this study was to measure patterns of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among Finnish children and to explore whether CAM use among children is mainly complementary or alternative. ⋯ Our results indicate that the use of CAMs among Finnish children is mainly for improving health and alleviating symptoms, especially in families where at least one parent also uses these modalities. CAMs were mainly used as complementary rather than as an alternative to conventional care. Healthcare professionals should be aware of this complementary use of CAMs and medicines in patients to avoid risks of potential interactions.