Development and Evaluation of a Web-Based Paediatric Drug Information System for Germany

Abstract

Background: Off-label use is frequent in paediatrics but that does not necessarily mean that the risk-benefit ratio is negative. Nevertheless, evidence-based data is essential for safe drug therapy. In Germany, there is no publicly available compendium providing transparent, evidence-based information for paediatric pharmacotherapy to date. This work describes the development of a web-based paediatric drug information system (PDIS) for Germany and its evaluation by health care professionals (HCP). Methods: Since 2012, a PDIS is being developed by the authors and is supported by the Federal Ministry of Health since 2016. Dosing recommendations were established based on systematic literature reviews and subsequent evaluation by clinical experts. The prototype was evaluated by HCP. Based on the results, the further development was concluded. Results: 92% of HCP believed that the PDIS could improve the quality of prescribing, as currently available information is deficient. Besides the license and formulations, dosing recommendations were the most relevant modules. A dosage calculator was the most wanted improvement. To facilitate sustainability of future development, a collaboration with the Dutch Kinderformularium was established. As of 2021, the database will be available to German HCP. Conclusion: The fundamentals for a German PDIS were established, and vital steps were taken towards successful continuation.

Sichere und passende Pharmakotherapie in der Kinderanästhesie

“…Diese ist kostenfrei abrufbar (www.kinderformularium.de) und wird laufend aktualisiert. Ihr Ziel ist es, die Arzneimitteltherapie bei Kindern und Jugendlichen zu verbessern, Dosierungsempfehlungen national und international zu harmonisieren und Informationen für Anwender einfach und kostenfrei zugänglich zu machen [4]. Für alle im jeweiligen Bereich verwendeten Medikamente müssen die relevanten Informationen am Arbeitsplatzbeispielsweise in tabellarischer Form oder als kom-pakte SOPsallzeit und für jeden Mitarbeiter verfügbar sein.…”

Value of a web-based pediatric drug information system to prevent serious adverse drug reactions in child and adolescent psychiatry

“…kinde rform ulari um. de (Kinderformularium.de 2021) and was recently published by Zahn and colleagues (Zahn et al 2021).…”

“…A new approach to move away from practice-based, empirical to systematic and evidence-based pediatric pharmacotherapy is to provide structured and evidence-based information on the use of medications in children and adolescents, such as the currently developed and established web-based pediatric drug information system (PDIS) “kinderformularium.de” (Neubert and Rascher 2018 ; Zahn et al 2021 ). PDIS is a transparent and evidence-based prescribing aid for clinicians including both information on licensed and off-label prescribed (psychotropic) drugs in children and adolescents (Zahn et al 2021 ; Neubert und Rascher 2018 ). It contains dosing recommendations as well as pharmacological and pharmaceutical information for drugs, including psychotropic drugs, used in children and adolescents in Germany.…”

Arzneimittelnebenwirkungen und Medikationsfehler bei Kindern

“…Das Paediatric Drug Information System (PDIS) ist ein webbasiertes pädiatrisches Arzneimittelinformationssystem [38]. Das System ist aus dem 2016 durch das Bundesministerium für Gesundheit geförderten Projekt "Aufbau und Betrieb einer evidenzbasierten Dosisdatenbank und eines Dosishandbuches für Kindermedikamente in Deutschland (PaedDos)" hervorgegangen [38]. Das PDIS wurde in den letzten Jahren zur Online-Plattform Kinderformularium.…”