Association between parental attitudes and self-medication of their children
Siponen, Sanna; Ahonen, Riitta; Kiviniemi, Vesa; Hämeen-Anttila, Katri (2013)
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Siponen, Sanna
Ahonen, Riitta
Kiviniemi, Vesa
Hämeen-Anttila, Katri
2013
International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy : 1
Tiivistelmä
Background The association between parental
attitudes and medication administered to their children
has been studied mainly regarding specific diseases and
ailments, e.g. asthma, fever and pain. Little is known about
how parental attitudes toward medicines in general are
associated with how they medicate their children using selfmedication.
Objective The aim of this study was to identify
how parental attitudes toward medicines are associated with
how they medicate their children with self-medication
including the use of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines and
complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs). Setting
A cross-sectional population-based study was conducted
in the spring of 2007. The study sample consisted of a
random sample of Finnish children under 12 years of age
(n = 6,000). Method A questionnaire was sent to parents,
and the parent who usually takes responsibility for the child´s
medication was instructed to answer the questionnaire. Main
outcome measure The responding parent was asked to report
the child’s use of OTC medicines and CAMs during the
preceding 2 days. The parent’s attitude toward medicines
was measured by 18 statements using a 5-item Likert scale.
Results CAM use was least likely among children whose
parent had a positive view of prescription medicines. In
contrast, a positive attitude toward OTC medicines by a
parent was associated with both, OTC medicine and CAM
use among children, whereas, parental worry about the risks
of medicines predicted the use of CAMs among children.
Conclusion This study showed that parental attitudes toward
medicines have an impact on how they medicate their
children, especially with CAMs. This finding highlights the
fact that health care professionals should negotiate a child’s
treatment, taking into account parental views toward medicines,
and previous use of self-medication.
attitudes and medication administered to their children
has been studied mainly regarding specific diseases and
ailments, e.g. asthma, fever and pain. Little is known about
how parental attitudes toward medicines in general are
associated with how they medicate their children using selfmedication.
Objective The aim of this study was to identify
how parental attitudes toward medicines are associated with
how they medicate their children with self-medication
including the use of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines and
complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs). Setting
A cross-sectional population-based study was conducted
in the spring of 2007. The study sample consisted of a
random sample of Finnish children under 12 years of age
(n = 6,000). Method A questionnaire was sent to parents,
and the parent who usually takes responsibility for the child´s
medication was instructed to answer the questionnaire. Main
outcome measure The responding parent was asked to report
the child’s use of OTC medicines and CAMs during the
preceding 2 days. The parent’s attitude toward medicines
was measured by 18 statements using a 5-item Likert scale.
Results CAM use was least likely among children whose
parent had a positive view of prescription medicines. In
contrast, a positive attitude toward OTC medicines by a
parent was associated with both, OTC medicine and CAM
use among children, whereas, parental worry about the risks
of medicines predicted the use of CAMs among children.
Conclusion This study showed that parental attitudes toward
medicines have an impact on how they medicate their
children, especially with CAMs. This finding highlights the
fact that health care professionals should negotiate a child’s
treatment, taking into account parental views toward medicines,
and previous use of self-medication.
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