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Parent and caregiver compliance with poison center advice

J Yamada1, M McGuigan

  • 1Ontario Regional Poison Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada. janet.yamada@sickkids.ca

Journal of Toxicology. Clinical Toxicology
|August 9, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Parental compliance with Poison Control Center (PCC) advice for accidental pediatric antihistamine or decongestant ingestions was high. Most caregivers followed recommendations, whether for hospital treatment or no treatment, indicating trust in PCC guidance.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Toxicology
  • Public Health
  • Medication Safety

Background:

  • Accidental ingestion of medications like antihistamines and decongestants is a common concern in young children.
  • Assessing parental adherence to expert advice is crucial for effective management of such incidents.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the compliance rates of parents and caregivers with Poison Control Center (PCC) recommendations following accidental pediatric ingestions of antihistamines, decongestants, or both.
  • To identify factors influencing compliance in managing pediatric medication exposures.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective-descriptive study design was employed, utilizing data from eligible calls to a poison control center.
  • Children were categorized based on the need for hospital treatment following ingestion.
  • Compliance was assessed through follow-up telephone calls within 7 days of the initial consultation.

Main Results:

  • Out of 147 calls, 107 callers (72.8%) were advised no treatment was needed, with 93.4% complying.
  • 40 callers (27.2%) were advised to seek emergency department care, and 97.5% complied.
  • No statistically significant difference in compliance rates was observed between the two advice groups (p=0.58).

Conclusions:

  • Parental compliance with Poison Control Center advice for pediatric antihistamine/decongestant ingestions is notably high.
  • Caregiver anxiety and the desire for a second opinion were identified as reasons for noncompliance.
  • Further research is recommended to confirm compliance levels across diverse age groups and exposure types.
Abstract

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