[Pediatricians' opinion on sedation in children].
OBJECTIVE
Our objective was t evaluate the current knowledge and attitudes of pediatricians regarding the issue of pediatric sedation.


METHODS
In October 1996 we conducted a mail survey of all 686 members of the Asturias, Cantabria and Castilla y Leon Pediatric Society. Physicians were asked to complete and return a confidential 18-item questionnaire.


RESULTS
One hundred fifty-seven (23%) of the eligible physicians responded. Of the responding physicians, 90% agreed that they had insufficient training in pain and sedation management. Seventeen percent thought childhood sedation to be very effective, 76% effective and 7% little effective. Fifty-nine percent thought infant sedation was easy and 36% considered it to be difficult. Thirty-six percent of the pediatricians who work in hospitals considered the cooperation of children under 8 to be good versus only 17% of the primary attention pediatricians (p < 0.05). Thirty-nine percent thought that it was only necessary on some occasions that the parents are present when the child is sedated before surgery. Forty-eight percent of the male pediatricians considered that sedation was always or almost always indicated versus 67% of the female pediatricians (p < 0.05). The most used sedative drugs are midazolam (24%), diazepam (23%) and chloral hydrate (14%). Eleven percent indicated that it was necessary to monitor cardiorespiratory function and oxygen saturation during sedation.


CONCLUSIONS
Pediatricians in this Society seem to have a lack of knowledge concerning sedation of their patients. Training in childhood sedation is needed.
Riaño Galán
I
I
Servicio de Pediatría de Hospital Narcea (Cangas del Narcea).
Mayoral González
B
B
Solís Sánchez
G
G
Orejas Rodríguez-Arango
G
G
Málaga Guerrero
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000758:Anesthesia; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D002697:Chloral Hydrate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003975:Diazepam / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008874:Midazolam / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D010372:Pediatrics; D012737:Sex Factors; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D002697:Chloral Hydrate; D003975:Diazepam; D008874:Midazolam
Opinión de los pediatras sobre la sedación en los niños.