Parental pediatric corticosteroid preferences

Corticosteroids are often prescribed in the acute care management of asthma. Prednisolone can be administered intramuscularly (IM) or orally in 2 different concentrations. This study evaluated parental preference for three prednisolone preparations based on the route of administration, taste, and volume required. Accompanying adults (AAs) of pediatric patients were interviewed about their preferences based on the 3 factors. Those AAs who passed the health screen (51 of 214) were asked to taste 2 oral prednisolone preparations and reinterviewed about their corticosteroid preferences. Of the 214 AAs, 96% were parents. Of the group, 43% preferred IM corticosteroids whereas 40% preferred oral corticosteroids. Without considering taste as a factor for oral corticosteroids, 94% preferred the more concentrated syrup compared with the less concentrated one. When told that the less concentrated syrup tasted better, 58% preferred the less concentrated/better tasting syrup. After the 51 taste test subcohort subjects tasted the syrups, 96% preferred the less concentrated/ better tasting syrup over the more concentrated/poorer tasting syrup. Taste is more important than volume of administration for this particular corticosteroid comparison. Simply asking parents about their IM/oral and syrup formulation preferences may be the easiest way of optimizing their treatment plan.