Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 30, 2026

A Novel Approach for the Administration of Medications and Fluids in Emergency Scenarios and Settings
06:59

A Novel Approach for the Administration of Medications and Fluids in Emergency Scenarios and Settings

Published on: November 9, 2016

Primary compliance with medication prescribed for paediatric patients discharged from a regional hospital

H Wright1, D Forbes, H Graham

  • 1Port Hedland Regional Hospital, Port Hedland, Perth, Western Australia, Austalia. hmwright@starwon.com.au

Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health
|November 25, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Primary medication compliance for children in regional hospitals is suboptimal, with 75% of prescriptions filled. Non-compliance, particularly with antibiotics, may cause treatment failure in pediatric patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric medicine
  • Pharmacology
  • Public health

Background:

  • Medication adherence is crucial for pediatric treatment efficacy.
  • Suboptimal compliance can lead to treatment failure and increased healthcare costs.
  • Regional healthcare settings may face unique challenges in medication adherence.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the rate of primary medication compliance among pediatric patients discharged from a regional hospital.
  • To identify potential factors contributing to non-compliance in this population.

Main Methods:

  • A 14-week study of pediatric admissions (April-July 2000) at a regional hospital.
  • Comparison of filled prescriptions (local Aboriginal Medical Service, pharmacies) against ward discharge prescriptions.
  • Analysis of patient data including age, sex, number of drugs, and diagnosis.

Main Results:

  • A total of 160 pediatric admissions were studied.
  • 75% of prescribed medications were filled (49 out of 65 prescriptions).
  • Non-compliance was higher compared to a metropolitan tertiary referral center, with antibiotics being frequently unfilled.

Conclusions:

  • Primary medication compliance in this regional pediatric setting was suboptimal.
  • A significant proportion of unfilled prescriptions were for antibiotics.
  • Primary non-compliance may be a treatable cause of treatment failure in regional pediatric care.
Abstract

Related Concept Videos

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
Drug Dosing: Infants and Children01:29

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children

Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight, compared...
Factors Affecting Drug Response: Overview01:21

Factors Affecting Drug Response: Overview

When it comes to infants and young children, they are typically administered smaller doses of medication in comparison to adults. This is primarily because their organ functions still need to fully develop, meaning their bodies are not as efficient at metabolizing or eliminating drugs. Additionally, their blood-brain barrier is more permeable than in adults. As a result, high concentrations of drugs can easily penetrate the central nervous system (CNS), potentially leading to neurological...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses a challenge in...