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%. METHOD: A questionnaire 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-point Likert scale was used to determine parental attitudes towards medicines. RESULTS: Five principal components with 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 long-term 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 prescription medicines as safe and effective, less think so of OTC 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.
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%. METHOD: A questionnaire 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-point Likert scale was used to determine parental attitudes towards medicines. RESULTS: Five principal components with 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 long-term 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 prescription medicines as safe and effective, less think so of OTC 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.
Authors: Katri P Hämeen-Anttila; Ulla R Niskala; Sanna M Siponen; Riitta S Ahonen Journal: BMC Complement Altern Med Date: 2011-11-04 Impact factor: 3.659
Authors: Tareq L Mukattash; Nuha Y ALGhzawi; Rana K Abu Farha; Anan S Jarab; Katri Hämeen-Anttila; Kristi Vainio; Omar S Gammoh Journal: Saudi Pharm J Date: 2017-10-03 Impact factor: 4.330