Effect of use of a measured dispensing device on oral antibiotic compliance

The substitution of a syringe in place of a teaspoon for the delivery of oral medications has become routine in some pediatric practices for reasons that are not clear. Although a syringe would measure dosages more accurately, most oral medications have a broad acceptable dose range. A possible advantage of syringes is that parents who receive these may be more impressed with the importance of treatment than those prescribed medications by teaspoon. To test this hypothesis, 72 patients below 24 months of age with otitis media were randomly divided into a group that received a prescription indicating amoxicillin should be given by teaspoon and a group that received a labeled syringe for this purpose. The qualitative presence of the antibiotic in urine at seven-day follow-up visit was 56 per cent among the teaspoon users and 67 per cent among syringe users, while return rates for one week appointments were 51 per cent and 32 per cent, respectively. Neither difference was significant. Use of a measured oral dispensing syringe did not improve compliance in administration of medication or return for follow-up and therefore, was judged not to be cost effective.