Developing medication independence: The experience of UK teenagers

There is a progression through childhood from being provided medications by caregivers to having to take responsibility for medications yourself, but little is known about when the transition of adolescents managing medicines begins. The aim of this study was to obtain a cross-sectional sample of UK adolescents and when they become independent with medications.

A prospective anonymous survey was conducted during the school academic year 2023/2024. Participating secondary schools were members of the Alder Hey Research Ambassador Scheme. This survey included questions to assess their demographics and usage of medications.

A total of 3164 responses were received from 18 schools and colleges. Among participants, 1749 (55.4%) were female, with a mean age of 15.3 years (range 13-18). In the last 6 months, 1414 (45%) participants had used prescription medications, and 1660 (53%) had used over-the-counter (OTC) medications. Overall, 937 (30%) participants reported using medications without parental knowledge, of which 67 (7.2%) were prescription medicines. Female adolescents were more likely than male adolescents for all ages to be using medicines without parental knowledge (p < 0.001). OTC medicines purchased were most commonly reported as analgesics (paracetamol and ibuprofen) and antihistamines.

Young people acquire different aspects of medication independence throughout the teenage years and are varied among females and males. These data can inform the timing and content of educational information supplied to adolescents regarding medications and can be utilized by educational institutes in the United Kingdom, as well as healthcare and pharmaceutical industries to ensure their information is appropriate for different ages.