A Brief Educational Intervention Improves Medication Safety Knowledge in Grandparents of Young Children

Abstract

Background and ObjectivesIncreasing grandparent-grandchild interactions have not been targeted as a potential contributing factor to the recent surge in pediatric poisonings. We hypothesized that in grandparents with a young grandchild, a single educational intervention based on the PROTECT “Up & Away” campaign will improve safe medication knowledge and storage at follow-up from baseline.MethodsThis prospective cohort study validated the educational intervention and survey via cognitive debriefing followed by evaluation of the educational intervention in increasing safe medication storage. Participants had to read and speak English and have annual contact with one grandchild ≤ 5-years-old. Participants were recruited from a convenience sample of employees in a regional healthcare system. They completed a pre-intervention survey querying baseline demographics, poisoning prevention knowledge, and medication storage, followed by the educational intervention and post-intervention survey. Participants completed a delayed post-intervention survey 50–90 days later assessing medication storage and poisoning prevention knowledge. Storage sites were classified as safe or unsafe a priori; a panel classified handwritten responses.Results120 participants were enrolled; 95 (79%) completed the delayed post-intervention survey. Participants were predominantly female (93%) and white (76%); 50% had a clinical degree. Participants averaged 1.9 grandchildren. Initially, 23% of participants reported safe medication storage; this improved to 48% after the intervention (OR 6.4; 95% CI = 2.5–21.0). 78% of participants made at least one improvement in their medication storage after the intervention even if they did not meet all criteria for safe storage. Participants also demonstrated retention of poisoning prevention knowledge.ConclusionsThis brief educational intervention improved safe medication storage and poisoning prevention knowledge in grandparents of young children; further evaluation of this intervention is warranted.

Trends in Emergency Department Visits for Unsupervised Pediatric Medication Exposures, 2004–2013

“…8, 22, 31–34 Initiated in 2008, PROTECT is a public-private partnership led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that aims to prevent unsupervised medication exposures by encouraging development and implementation of innovative exposure-limiting packaging (e.g., flow restrictors) and by updating and disseminating evidence-based educational messages on safe use and storage of medications that resonate with new generations of caregivers. To maintain or even accelerate reductions in preventable harm from pediatric medication exposures will require continuing efforts to address the medications that lead to frequent and disproportionate harm, including interventions that balance efficacy and feasibility.…”

“…Despite great success in reducing the numbers of pediatric poisoning deaths, 2 each year approximately a half million calls are made to poison centers after a young child accesses medication without adult supervision, 3–5 and from 2001–2008 the number of pediatric exposure calls that resulted in emergency department (ED) evaluation increased 24–32% depending on medication type. 6 Since then, renewed efforts to improve child safety packaging and education were initiated, 7, 8 and reducing ED visits for unintentional medication overdoses among young children was adopted as a Healthy People 2020 goal for the nation. 9 …”

Medication Handling and Storage among Pilgrims during the Hajj Mass Gathering

“…Being educated enables patients to understand and practice the written and oral guidelines and instructions of medication use, storage and handling better than those who are illiterate. Similarly, educational interventions have been shown to improve patients’ knowledge of their medication, including appropriate storage [ 27 , 28 ]. Likewise, pilgrims with underlying health conditions are more likely to be taking medications regularly and for longer periods of time compared to others.…”

“…Only 28.2% of pilgrims accessed information on medication storage from the medication label in the current study. Studies have shown that not all medication users consult the medication label or the package insert for information [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ]. In one study among Hajj pilgrims, only 54.2% reported that they do read the information on medications’ labels before using them.…”

“…Education is an important factor in improving patients’ knowledge of their medications, including storage conditions [ 27 , 28 , 39 ]. Educating pilgrims regarding appropriate handling and storage of their medications, including during the Hajj journey, is crucial to improve their knowledge and practice, both within and outside the Hajj context.…”