title: What is the current practice of medicines reconciliation in children nationally in the UK?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence/National Patient Safety Agency (NICE/NPSA) guidelines for medicines reconciliation (MR) on admission to hospital in adult inpatients were introduced in 2007, but they excluded children less than 16 years of age.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a survey of 98 paediatric pharmacists (each from a different hospital) to find out what the current practice of MR in children is in the UK.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Responses showed that 67% (43/64) of pharmacists surveyed carried out MR in all children at admission and only a third 34% (22/64) had policies for MR in children. Of the respondents who did not carry out MR in all children, 80% (4/5) responded that they did so in selected children. Pharmacists considered themselves the most appropriate profession for carrying out MR. When asked whether the NICE guidance should be expanded to include children, 98% (54/55) of the respondents answered 'yes'.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, the findings suggest that MR is being conducted inconsistently in children and most paediatric pharmacists would like national guidance to be expanded to include children.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Paediatric Pharmacy Research, University College London School of Pharmacy, BMA/Tavistock House, Tavistock Square.
authors.forename: Chi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Huynh
authors.forename: Yogini
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jani
authors.forename: Ian Chi Kei
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Bhavika
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dewchand
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tomlin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D059065:Medication Reconciliation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D024382:Professional Role; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom