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Parents' knowledge and choice of paracetamol dosing forms in 3- to 6-year-old children

Helga Lára Helgadóttir1, Margaret E Wilson

  • 1Faculty of Nursing, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland. helgalar@hi.is

Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences
|February 14, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Parents in Iceland often use paracetamol suppositories for children, despite oral forms being more effective. Many are unaware of oral paracetamol options, highlighting a need for better parental education on pain and fever management.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Pharmacology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Paracetamol is a widely used medication for children.
  • Oral administration offers superior absorption and acceptance compared to rectal forms.
  • Rectal paracetamol administration is prevalent in Iceland.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate parental knowledge and practices regarding paracetamol use in 3- to 6-year-old children.
  • To identify common administration routes and parental awareness of different paracetamol formulations.

Main Methods:

  • Survey research conducted with 103 parents of children aged 3–6 years.
  • Participants recruited from four playschools in Reykjavík, Iceland.

Main Results:

  • The suppository form of paracetamol was the most frequently used method.
  • A notable portion of parents were unaware of oral paracetamol formulations.
  • Some parents reported receiving advice from healthcare professionals to use suppositories.

Conclusions:

  • Parental education on appropriate paracetamol administration for children is necessary.
  • Addressing misconceptions and promoting awareness of oral paracetamol can improve treatment efficacy.
  • Findings inform the development of targeted educational interventions for pain and fever management in pediatric populations.

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