An assessment of parents’ knowledge and awareness regarding paracetamol use in children: a cross-sectional study from Palestine

Abstract

Background Paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen, is one of the most common antipyretic and analgesic over-the-counter (OTC) medicines administered to children due to its efficacy, safety, and availability in many pharmaceutical forms, including suppositories, syrup, and drops. Parents frequently administer the wrong dose of paracetamol by mistake for their children, as reported by many previous studies. We aimed in this study to assess parents’ knowledge, attitudes, and practice regarding paracetamol dosing and toxicity, as well as their awareness regarding paracetamol-containing products. Methods This was a cross-sectional study that targeted parents of children seeking healthcare services at primary health care centers in the Nablus area in the West Bank, Palestine. We used questionnaire-based interviews with parents for data collection. Results A total of 300 parents were included in the study. Most of the caregivers surveyed were (87%) females (mothers). About half the parents (50.9%) reported previously using paracetamol as an antipyretic in children under the age of six. A quarter (25.4%) preferred the syrup forms, while 33.8% preferred the suppository dosage form. Medical personnel was the primary source of information for half the caregivers (51.2%). The mean knowledge score about paracetamol was 2.1 (SD = 1.4) out of 6, and the median was 2.0 with an interquartile range of 1.0–3.0. Two hundred seventy-four (95.5%) of the participants scored less than 80% and were considered to have insufficient knowledge. Only 50.9% of parents recognized that paracetamol overdose could result in serious harm. Conclusions We found a serious lack of knowledge regarding paracetamol dosing, administration, and potential toxicity among Palestinian parents. We recommend raising awareness regarding this problem among healthcare providers and authorities and working on plans that aim to provide caregivers with accurate and adequate information on dosing, formulation, side effects, and other aspects of paracetamol use, as well as developing effective educational plans targeting healthcare providers, as well as the public.

Evaluation of the practices of using paracetamol among parents in treating their children in Penang, Malaysia

“…This study revealed that the majority of parents used paracetamol for fever which is consistent with a few studies (Daifallah et al, 2021;Lundgren et al, 2017). Paracetamol is generally not required for the treatment of mild fever under a body temperature of less than 38.5°C (Chong et al, 2017).…”

Estimates of Paracetamol Poisoning in Brazil: Analysis of Official Records From 1990s to 2020

“…The indiscriminate use of medication to control pain increases unintentional poisoning, with simultaneous administration of two or more formulations with paracetamol ( Larson et al, 2005 ). Poor knowledge of consumers about adverse events related to the drug may also increase risks and unintentional poisoning ( Daifallah et al, 2021 ). In addition to the consumption of different compounds with acetaminophen, easy access without a prescription, and self-medication, the concomitant use with alcohol further damages the liver function and increases the risk of unintentional poisoning ( Kane et al, 2012 ; Kjartansdottir et al, 2012 ; Hawton et al, 2019 ).…”

Studi Stabilitas Kadar Parasetamol Drops yang Dicampur Minuman Teh Manis Pada Suhu Ruang (≤ 30 °C) Dan Suhu Dingin (2-8 °C)

“…Parasetamol adalah obat yang digunakan sebagai analgesik (pereda nyeri) dan antipiretik (penurun panas/demam) yang bisa diperoleh tanpa resep dokter [4][5][6] . Parasetamol drops merupakan suatu sediaan yang biasanya ditujukan kepada anakanak 5 . Mulai dari umur 0 bulan sampai sampai 3 tahun.…”

“…Metode yang dilakukan adalah mencampur parasetamol drops dengan minuman teh manis dan disimpan pada kondisi penyimpanan suhu ruang (≤ 30 ⁰C) dan suhu dingin (2-8 ⁰C). Pada interval waktu 0, 5,10, 15,20,30, 45, 60, 120, 180 dan 1440 menit dilakukan pengamatan organoleptik dan penetapan kadar parasetamol menggunakan Spektrofotometri UV-Vis. Hasil pengujian organoleptik menunjukkan campuran stabil berbentuk cair berwarna merah dengan aroma khas parasetamol dan sedikit aroma teh selama 24 jam penyimpanan pada suhu dingin.…”