Publication: Knowledge and Practice of Caregivers Towards Paracetamol Administration in Children – A Cross-sectional study
Date
2024
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Perinatal Society of Nepal (PESON)
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction: Paracetamol is an effective anti-pyretic and analgesic when taken in prescribed appropriate dose, whereas overdosing of the same may cause serious morbidity and mortality. This study was done to assess the knowledge and practice of caregivers towards paracetamol administration in children.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was done for a period three months with a sample size of 255 caregivers accompanying the children up to the age of 12 years in the Department of Paediatrics, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Tamil Nadu, India. A predesigned questionnaire was used to collect the socio-demographic variables and for assessing the knowledge and practice of the caregivers towards paracetamol administration in children. The study was started after obtaining ethical clearance from the Institutional ethics committee. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, version 22.0) was used for statistical analysis.
Results: The association of age and socioeconomic class with the level of paracetamol dosing was statistically significant in the present study. The association of knowledge of giving paracetamol without doctor’s advice with the level of paracetamol dosing was statistically significant. While assessing the practice of caregivers towards paracetamol administration in children, the practice of using measuring cups for giving paracetamol suspension or the specific dosage proportion for paracetamol tablet was statistically significant with the level of paracetamol dosing.
Conclusion: The act of self-medicating the child by the caregivers has placed the children’s life at the threat of unintended paracetamol overdose which can be eliminated by the simple act of improving the health literacy of the caregivers by various methods.
Keywords: Children; Drugs; Fever; Overdose.
Description
Home / Archives / Vol. 44 No. 1 (2024) / Original Articles
Knowledge and Practice of Caregivers Towards Paracetamol Administration in Children – A Cross-sectional study
KAP towards paracetamol administration
Authors
Ramya R
Associate Professor, Department of Paediatrics, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, 7 CLC Works Road, Chrompet, Chennai, Tamilnadu - 600044, India.
Divya lakshmi
Resident, Department of Paediatrics, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, 7 CLC Works Road, Chrompet, Chennai, Tamilnadu - 600044, India.
Sundari S
Professor, Department of Paediatrics, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, 7 CLC Works Road, Chrompet, Chennai, Tamilnadu - 600044, India.
Keywords
Children, Drugs, Fever, Overdose