Caregivers' understanding of paracetamol/ibuprofen dosing intervals
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A questionnaire based survey: do caregivers understand the correct dosing intervals for paracetamol and ibuprofen in unwell children presenting to Sheffield Children’s Hospital Acute Assessment Unit?
IRAS ID
235474
Contact name
Astha Soni
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sheffield Childrens NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 0 months, 5 days
Research summary
Paracetamol and ibuprofen are medications commonly given by parents/caregivers to their unwell children. Paracetamol can be given up to every four hours, but only four times a day, while ibuprofen can be given three to four times a day depending on age. There is potential for parents, particularly when they are tired from looking after feverish children, to get confused about the interval between doses and give the dose too frequently. This could possibly lead to unintended side effects from the children receiving too much medication in a 24 hour period.
I propose to administer a questionnaire to parents when their unwell children are sent to Sheffield Children’s Hospital to be assessed by a paediatrician. I will ask how often they have given doses of paracetamol and ibuprofen to their children in the past 24 hours, and ask how they remember when the doses were given. I will also ask some questions to see if they remember the official advice on how often the medication can be given.
If I identify that there is a problem with parents giving their children paracetamol or ibuprofen too frequently, I will consider what steps can be taken to improve this problem on a local or possibly national level.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/NW/0215
Date of REC Opinion
24 Apr 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion