title: Drug use in non-hospitalized children.
abstract: The knowledge of the characteristics of the use of drugs in non-hospitalized children is of paramount importance since clinical trials are seldom (and sometimes should not be) performed in such patients. The source of drug prescriptions varies a lot: 'self-administration' through parents accounts for as much as formal physician's orders or pharmacist's counselling. Data can be collected through the whole drug chain: drug prescription--drug dispensing--drug attainment--drug consumption. Both qualitative and quantitative data are to be collected in order to draw a complete picture of drug use in non-hospitalized children. Longitudinal collection methods, as well as time-point or cross-sectional studies can be carried out. The particular role of each of these methods of performing a drug utilization study in children are analysed and discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Physical Medicine, University of La Laguna, La Cuesta, Tenerife, Spain.
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Sanz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004363:Drug Utilization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010290:Parents; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents