The PEGMED Project
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The PEGMED Project - Parental experience of giving their children liquid medications. Real-world acceptability and adherence of liquid formulation antibiotics in children.
IRAS ID
260671
Contact name
Daniel Owens
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
R&D Department - University Hospital Southampton
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 9 days
Research summary
Objectives: To assess the acceptability of and adherence to liquid oral antibiotics. \n\nRationale: There are no recent or UK based studies regarding acceptability of antibiotics in children and how this affects adherence. \n\nBackground: Paediatric studies have shown that self-reported adherence to a course of oral antimicrobials ranges between 63-97%. Studies have shown that adherence to a prescribed course is better when the antibiotic is better tasting. \n\nAcross a range of studies the following factors were identified by parents/carers as factors in non-adherence to the antimicrobial course: taste/acceptability, clinical improvement of child, forgot doses, frequency of doses and side effects especially diarrhoea. There is currently no data regarding the outcomes of children who were non-adherent. \n\nResearch questions:\n1.\tTo what extent are oral antibiotic courses adhered to in an out-of-hospital environment?\n2.\tWhere oral antibiotics are not adhered to, what are the reasons for this?\n3.\tIs adherence related to acceptability (i.e. taste and volume) of an antibiotic?\n4.\tWhat factors, if any, lead parents to stopping antibiotics before the end of a prescribed course?\n5.\tDoes adherence or non-adherence affect the child’s recovery time as reported by the parents?\n\nMethodology: Parents of children prescribed liquid oral antibiotics will be approached. The treating clinician in the ED, PAU or GP surgery will identify the participants. The study team will contact the parent/guardian by phone at 10-14 days post-presentation to complete a phone questionnaire regarding their experience of giving the medicines to their child. The questionnaire will ask questions regarding adherence to and acceptability of liquid oral antibiotics. The questionnaire has been developed with input from families to ensure that questions are comprehensible and relevant. \n\nFuture work: The outcome is to provide data on adherence to oral antibiotics and any barriers to this to inform prescribing practice and policies in the future.\n
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/YH/0340
Date of REC Opinion
3 Oct 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion