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Published on: January 19, 2024

Appropriateness of paediatric vitamin prescribing in Vietnamese outpatient settings: associated factors

Em Canh Pham1, Tuong Vi Thi Le2, Hong Tuoi Thi Do3

  • 1Faculty of Pharmacy, Hong Bang International University, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam canhem112009@gmail.com.

BMJ Paediatrics Open
|July 2, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Vitamin prescribing in Vietnamese pediatric outpatients showed high adherence to recommended dosages and age criteria. However, gastrointestinal disorders were linked to inappropriate dosing, especially with multivitamin products.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric pharmacology
  • Nutritional science
  • Public health

Background:

  • Vitamin supplementation is common in children.
  • Understanding prescribing patterns is crucial for optimizing pediatric care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe and evaluate vitamin prescribing practices in Vietnamese pediatric outpatients.
  • To assess adherence to international guidelines for dosage and age appropriateness.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study of 400 pediatric outpatients in a tertiary referral hospital in Vietnam.
  • Analysis of prescribing patterns by vitamin type, age, BMI, and diagnosis (ICD-10).
  • Assessment of dosage and age appropriateness against established international guidelines.

Main Results:

  • Multivitamin complexes and vitamin B1 were the most prescribed vitamins, mainly for children aged 1-10 with respiratory disorders.
  • High adherence was observed: 91.5% met recommended dosages and 98.8% were age-appropriate.
  • Gastrointestinal disorders were associated with a higher likelihood of inappropriate dosing (aOR 4.92).

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric vitamin prescribing in Vietnam demonstrated good adherence to dosage and age guidelines.
  • Dosage deviations occurred, particularly with multivitamins and combination products, and were linked to gastrointestinal disorders.
  • Recommendations include integrating weight-adjusted dosing and electronic alerts to improve accuracy in resource-limited settings.
Abstract

Keywords:
Child HealthCross-Sectional StudiesPharmacologyTherapeuticsToxicology

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