Parental attitudes toward medicine use in children in Finland
Hämeen-Anttila, Katri; Halonen, Pirjo; Siponen, Sanna; Holappa, Miina; Ahonen, Riitta (2011)
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Hämeen-Anttila, Katri
Halonen, Pirjo
Siponen, Sanna
Holappa, Miina
Ahonen, Riitta
2011
International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
Tiivistelmä
Objective The aim was to describe parental attitudes
towards medicine use in children, and the factors associated
with them. Setting A cross-sectional population survey
of a random sample of children under 12 years of age
(n = 6,000) was carried out in Finland in the spring of 2007,
with a response rate of 67%. MethodAquestionnaire was sent
to their parents. A Principal Component Analysis was conducted
for the attitudinal scale to determine parental attitudes.
Main outcome measure An attitudinal scale including 21
items on five-pointLikert scalewas used to determine parental
attitudes towards medicines. Results Five principal componentswith
18 statements explained parental attitudes: General
attitude towards medicines, Attitude towards prescription
medicines, Attitude towards OTC medicines, Attitude
towards the risks of medicines, and Attitude towards longterm
use of pain-killers. These components were internally
consistent and explained 54.7% of the total variance. Of the
respondents, 15% were cautious towards medicine use, 84%
agreed that prescription medicines are safe and effective,
whereas 49% thought so about OTC medicines. Of the
respondents, 69% were worried about the risks of medicines,
especially parents older than 46 years, with a low level of
education, who used medicinal herbs themselves, and had a
child with a long-term illness. Moreover, 46% of the respondents
were worried about the long-term use of pain-killers.
Conclusion This population based study showed that the
parental attitudes toward prescription medicines and toward
OTC medicines are different: many parents consider prescriptionmedicines
as safe and effective, less think so ofOTC
medicines. A considerable proportion of parents had worries
about side effects and interactions. This stresses the need to
address these topics in encounters with parents.
towards medicine use in children, and the factors associated
with them. Setting A cross-sectional population survey
of a random sample of children under 12 years of age
(n = 6,000) was carried out in Finland in the spring of 2007,
with a response rate of 67%. MethodAquestionnaire was sent
to their parents. A Principal Component Analysis was conducted
for the attitudinal scale to determine parental attitudes.
Main outcome measure An attitudinal scale including 21
items on five-pointLikert scalewas used to determine parental
attitudes towards medicines. Results Five principal componentswith
18 statements explained parental attitudes: General
attitude towards medicines, Attitude towards prescription
medicines, Attitude towards OTC medicines, Attitude
towards the risks of medicines, and Attitude towards longterm
use of pain-killers. These components were internally
consistent and explained 54.7% of the total variance. Of the
respondents, 15% were cautious towards medicine use, 84%
agreed that prescription medicines are safe and effective,
whereas 49% thought so about OTC medicines. Of the
respondents, 69% were worried about the risks of medicines,
especially parents older than 46 years, with a low level of
education, who used medicinal herbs themselves, and had a
child with a long-term illness. Moreover, 46% of the respondents
were worried about the long-term use of pain-killers.
Conclusion This population based study showed that the
parental attitudes toward prescription medicines and toward
OTC medicines are different: many parents consider prescriptionmedicines
as safe and effective, less think so ofOTC
medicines. A considerable proportion of parents had worries
about side effects and interactions. This stresses the need to
address these topics in encounters with parents.
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