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[Self medication in general pediatrics]

U Rodríguez Benito¹, R Magro Peteguer, M Masip López

¹Centro de Salud Cervantes, Guadalajara.

Atencion Primaria

|April 15, 1994

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Self-medication is common in pediatric care, with over a third of children receiving medication before consultation. Parents often administer incorrect treatments, highlighting the need for better parental education on managing common childhood illnesses.

Area of Science:

Pediatrics
Pharmacology
Public Health

Background:

Self-medication is a prevalent practice globally, particularly in pediatric settings.
Understanding the patterns and outcomes of self-medication is crucial for patient safety and effective healthcare delivery.
Parental involvement in medication administration necessitates clear guidance on appropriate use and potential risks.

Purpose of the Study:

To describe and quantify the prevalence of self-medication in a general pediatric office.
To identify the common conditions for which self-medication is employed.
To assess the appropriateness of self-medication practices and identify responsible parties.

Main Methods:

A descriptive, prospective study was conducted at the Cervantes Health Centre in Guadalajara.

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Data were collected from 387 pediatric patients (both sexes, under 8 years old) presenting with on-demand consultations over two months.

Pre-consultation medication use, the nature of the pathology, and the correctness of self-treatment were recorded.

Main Results:

36% of pediatric patients received medication prior to their consultation.
In 18.7% of these cases, the self-medication act was deemed incorrect, with parents primarily responsible.
The common cold was the most frequently observed pathology associated with self-medication.
No significant relationship was found between self-medication and child's age/sex, parental demographics, family size, or prior consultations for the same illness.

Conclusions:

Self-medication represents a common practice within pediatric consultations.
There is a clear need to educate parents on the appropriate management of common childhood illnesses.
Guidance for parents on recognizing when to seek professional medical advice is essential to improve pediatric care outcomes.