Choice of sugar-free medicines by a sample of dentists, doctors and pharmacists in Northern Ireland: the views of parents and health professionals.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the sources of learning and the levels of support concerning sugar-free medicines by doctors and pharmacists, to examine the provision of choice from the viewpoints of professionals and the parents, and to test the sugar-free status of medication in tests of prescribing.


METHODS
Samples of health professionals comprising 47 general medical practitioners, (87% response rate) 29 pharmacists (94%) and 25 general dental practitioners (100%) completed closed questionnaires as did 209 parents (72%) of 4-year-old children.


METHODS
Newry and Mourne Health Trust Area, Northern Ireland.


METHODS
Proportions of respondents citing various learning sources and the levels of support for the use of sugar-free medicines were obtained and the proportions of doctors and pharmacists claiming to offer various frequencies of choice were compared to the proportions of parents recalling receiving such choices. Test prescriptions were examined and the sugar-free status of the prescribed medication was determined.


RESULTS
Markedly different sources of learning were cited by different groups. Ninety per cent of pharmacists and 88% of dentists believed that medication should be in sugar-free form in all cases, while only 66% of doctors thought so. Forty three per cent of doctors claimed to always offer a choice while 17% of parents recalled receiving this. The equivalent figures for pharmacists and parents were 69% and 11%. The majority of test prescriptions by doctors and dentists were for sugar containing medicines.
Bradley
M B
MB
Division of Paediatric and Preventive Dentistry, School of Clinical Dentistry, Queens University Belfast, UK.
Kinirons
M J
MJ
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004345:Drug Industry; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D006801:Humans; D009660:Northern Ireland; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D014677:Pharmaceutical Vehicles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000523:psychology; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists'; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012494:Sampling Studies; D013395:Sucrose / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D014677:Pharmaceutical Vehicles; D013395:Sucrose