Table 6 Participating parents’ responses to questions on paracetamol-related practices
Variable | Frequency (%); N = 287 |
|---|---|
Pharmaceutical dosage form preferred | |
Syrup | 73 (25.4) |
Suppositories | 97 (33.8) |
Syrup and suppositories | 112 (39.0) |
Drops | 5 (1.7) |
Syrup dose used before | |
125 mg/5 ml | 106 (36.9) |
250 mg/5 ml | 93 (32.4) |
Didn’t use before | 88 (30.7) |
Syrup measuring tool used before | |
Teaspoon | 10 (3.5) |
Table spoon | 14 (4.9) |
Syringe | 178 (62.0) |
Measuring cup | 2 (0.7) |
Didn’t use before | 83 (28.9) |
Suppository dose used before | |
80 mg | 27 (9.4) |
150 mg | 83 (28.9) |
250 mg | 48 (16.7) |
300 mg | 64 (22.3) |
80 mg and 150 mg | 6 (2.1) |
Didn’t use before | 59 (20.6) |
Reasons for choosing this dosage form | |
Price | 11 (3.8) |
Efficacy | 94 (32.8) |
Doctor’s recommendation | 72 (25.1) |
Pharmacist’s recommendation | 36 (12.5) |
Other’s recommendation | 12 (4.2) |
Easily used | 35 (12.2) |
Other | 27 (9.4) |
Fever management if no improvement within 2 h | |
Give another dose of paracetamol | 61 (21.3) |
Use other medications | 37 (12.9) |
Use cold sponges | 87 (30.3) |
Consult a doctor | 90 (31.4) |
Use cold sponges and consult a doctor | 4 (1.4) |
Other | 8 (2.8) |
Reasons for using paracetamol without prescription | |
I do not trust the healthcare system | 10 (3.5) |
No need to visit the doctor | 84 (29.3) |
Doctor fee is too expensive | 38 (13.2) |
Prior experience with similar symptoms | 104 (36.2) |
Other | 51 (17.8) |
Difficulty with administration | |
Children refuse to swallow the medication | 104 (36.2) |
Child is not cooperative due to illness | 42 (14.6) |
Child is sleeping at the dose time | 28 (9.8) |
No difficulty | 100 (34.8) |
Other | 13 (4.5) |
Ways to ensure the child has taken the medication | |
Using force | 54 (18.8) |
Coaxing and encouraging the child | 76 (26.5) |
Mixing medicine with food or drinks | 48 (16.7) |
Seeking medical advice | 18 (6.3) |
Using non-pharmacological methods | 10 (3.5) |
Using suppositories instead of syrup | 69 (24.0) |
Other | 9 (3.1) |
Mixing medicine with food or drinks and using suppositories | 3 (1.0) |
Reason for repeating the dose | |
Severity of illness | 106 (36.9) |
Age | 43 (15.0) |
Weight | 37 (12.9) |
Medication leaflet | 47 (16.4) |
Doctor’s consultation | 43 (15.0) |
Pharmacist’s consultation | 11 (3.8) |
Sources of information on paracetamol dose | |
Doctor’s consultation | 96 (33.4) |
Pharmacist’s consultation | 51 (17.8) |
Own knowledge | 43 (15.0) |
Relatives and friends | 42 (14.6) |
Experience from previous use | 41 (14.3) |
Medication leaflet | 14 (4.9) |
Dose quantity is determined by | |
Weight | 78 (27.2) |
Age | 73 (25.4) |
Severity of illness | 61 (21.3) |
Experience from previous use | 19 (6.6) |
Medication leaflet and weight | 52 (18.1) |
Other | 4 (1.4) |