Practices in the prescription of adrenaline autoinjectors.
BACKGROUND
Anecdotally, the prescription of adrenaline autoinjectors seems to be very variable. We aimed to survey the practice in this area and look at the differences between paediatric allergists and general paediatricians, the factors influencing prescription and implementation of current guidelines.


METHODS
We developed an online survey containing 10 paediatric allergy cases and emailed a link to paediatricians. Respondents were asked to identify their prescribing decision in each case, the factors influencing their decisions and which guidelines they had read.


RESULTS
Responses were collated from 54 paediatric allergists and 27 general paediatricians. Almost all respondents had read at least one guideline. Prescribing decisions were very inconsistent, and significant influencing factors included peanut or tree nut allergy, trace reactions, remote facilities and parental anxiety.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates that most paediatricians have read at least one anaphylaxis guideline. However, reading the guidelines does not seem to have influenced their daily practice. This suggests that there is a need for improved implementation of anaphylaxis guidelines amongst paediatricians.
NIHR Nutrition, Diet and Lifestyle Biomedical Research Unit, Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust, Southampton, UK. m.johnson@soton.ac.uk
Mark J
MJ
Johnson
Keith D
KD
Foote
Helen E
HE
Moyses
Graham
G
Roberts
D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008297:Male; D010372:Pediatrics; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D004837:Epinephrine