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Initiating growth hormone therapy for children and adolescents

Carlo Acerini1, Assunta Albanese, Angela Casey

  • 1University of Cambridge.

British Journal of Nursing (Mark Allen Publishing)
|November 6, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Many children miss growth hormone (GH) injections, impacting growth. Improving patient education and device selection support can enhance treatment adherence for pediatric GH therapy.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Pharmacological Treatment Adherence
  • Growth Hormone Therapy

Background:

  • Children and adolescents on growth hormone (GH) treatment frequently miss injections, negatively affecting linear growth.
  • Treatment concordance is influenced by patient education and support in choosing GH injection devices.
  • Current practices for initiating GH therapy in the UK show inconsistencies, lacking standardized clinical recommendations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify issues in the initiation of GH therapy for pediatric patients in the UK.
  • To develop practical recommendations for healthcare professionals starting long-term GH treatment in children and adolescents.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current practices in initiating GH therapy across the UK.
  • Development of evidence-based recommendations for patient education and device selection support.
  • Consultation with healthcare professionals involved in pediatric GH therapy.

Main Results:

  • Significant inconsistencies were found in the process of starting GH therapy nationwide.
  • A lack of clinical guidelines for initiating pediatric GH treatment was identified.
  • Practical recommendations were developed to address these identified issues.

Conclusions:

  • Standardized protocols and improved patient support are crucial for optimizing GH therapy outcomes.
  • Addressing inconsistencies in GH therapy initiation can improve treatment adherence and linear growth in pediatric patients.
  • The developed recommendations aim to support healthcare professionals in providing effective long-term GH treatment.

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