The use of prescription medicines and self-medication among children--a population-based study in Finland.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and concomitant use of prescription medicines and self-medication, including over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins, and complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) among Finnish children aged under 12 years.


METHODS
We carried out a nationwide postal survey of the use of medicines by a representative sample (n = 6000) of Finnish children aged under 12 years in spring 2007. A response rate of 67% (n = 4032) was achieved. The current use of prescription medicines and the use of OTC medicines, vitamins, and CAMs in the preceding 2 days were the main outcome measures.


RESULTS
In total, 17% of children had used prescription medicines and 50% some self-medication. The corresponding figures for OTC medicines, vitamins, and CAMs use were 17, 37, and 11%, respectively. Drugs for obstructive airway diseases were the most common prescription medicines, whereas analgesics and antipyretics, including non-steroidal-anti-inflammatory-medicines (NSAID), were the most common OTC medicines reported. Vitamin D was the most common vitamin, while fish oils and fatty acids were the most common CAMs used. Ten percent of the children had used prescription medicines and self-medication concomitantly.


CONCLUSIONS
Most of the children's medication consists of self-medication, and especially of vitamin use. However, also a considerable proportion had used prescription medicines, and a minority prescription medicines and self-medication concomitantly. In three of the cases, a combination of prescription and OTC medicine with a potential risk for interactions were found. Physicians should be aware of this wide use of self-medication when prescribing medicines.
Ylinen
Sanna
S
School of Pharmacy/Social Pharmacy, Campus of Kuopio, University of Eastern Finland, Finland.
Hämeen-Anttila
Katri
K
Sepponen
Kati
K
Lindblad
Asa Kettis
AK
Ahonen
Riitta
R
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004347:Drug Interactions; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D017723:Drug Utilization Review; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D012651:Self Medication; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D004366:Nonprescription Drugs