Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 15, 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

How do pharmacists manage acute diarrhoea in an 8-month-old baby? A simulated client study

Annelies Driesen1, Yvan Vandenplas

  • 1Test-Aankoop/Test-Achats, Brussels, Belgium. adriesen@test-aankoop.be

The International Journal of Pharmacy Practice
|March 11, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Community pharmacists provided insufficient information for managing infant acute diarrhea. While advising on hydration, they asked few questions and offered limited medication counseling, impacting pharmaceutical care quality.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacy Practice
  • Pediatric Health
  • Community Health Services

Background:

  • Community pharmacists play a crucial role in patient counseling and pharmaceutical care.
  • Assessing the quality of pharmaceutical care provided for common pediatric conditions is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the extent to which community pharmacists fulfill their role in managing acute diarrhea in infants.
  • To analyze the information gathered and advice provided by pharmacists for an 8-month-old infant with acute diarrhea.

Main Methods:

  • A simulated client study involving 101 Belgian pharmacies.
  • Two female simulated clients presented with a scenario of an infant experiencing acute diarrhea.
  • Audio recordings captured pharmacist questions, verbal advice, and suggested medications.

Main Results:

  • Most pharmacists inquired about the infant's age, but few asked about symptom duration, fever, or vomiting.
  • 75% of pharmacists discussed hydration and dehydration risks; only 4% explained dehydration signs.
  • Oral rehydration solution was recommended by 30%, Saccharomyces boulardii by 86%, with limited dietary advice and doctor consultation recommendations.

Conclusions:

  • Pharmacists generally asked insufficient questions to adequately assess infant acute diarrhea.
  • While hydration advice was common, counseling on suggested medications and dietary management was inadequate.
  • There is a need to improve pharmacists' diagnostic questioning and comprehensive counseling skills in pediatric acute care.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Ginger Moxibustion, A Non-pharmacological Treatment, for Diarrhea in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease03:25

Ginger Moxibustion, A Non-pharmacological Treatment, for Diarrhea in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Published on: December 27, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Antimicrobials as Antidiarrheal Agents01:18

Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Antimicrobials as Antidiarrheal Agents

Acute diarrhea, a common gastrointestinal disturbance, is characterized by the rapid evacuation of fluid stools, leading to an excessive weight in fluid. This condition typically arises from disorders affecting intestinal water and electrolyte transport. It can be triggered by an increased osmotic load within the intestine, excessive secretion of electrolytes and water, mucosal exudation of protein and fluid, or altered intestinal motility. The primary risks of acute diarrhea are dehydration...
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...
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...
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...
Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Adsorbents as Antidiarrheal Agents01:20

Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Adsorbents as Antidiarrheal Agents

Diarrhea is characterized by the occurrence of frequent, watery bowel movements. Various factors can trigger diarrhea, including viral or bacterial infections, foodborne illnesses, side effects from certain medications, and underlying digestive disorders. If not adequately managed, diarrhea can lead to complications such as dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and nutrient deficiencies. Severe diarrhea can lead to significant weight loss, malnutrition, and weakened immune function.
Adsorbents...
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...