Parental/Carer Use of PARACETAMOL at Home
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Survey: Parental/Carer Use of PARACETAMOL at Home
IRAS ID
172164
Contact name
Sakura Hingley
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Research and Development Support Office
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 4 months, 11 days
Research summary
Paracetamol is a common anti-pyretic (anti fever) and analgaesic/pain killer used in managing fever and/ or pain for adults and children. It can be purchased over the counter and is a readily available medication that can be administered by parents and carers pre-hospital.
Doses of Paracetamol are frequently prescribed after triage in the Paediatric Emergency Department (PED), which suggests that Paracetamol use is not adequate/sufficient in the management of children’s symptoms before coming to hospital. Reviewing understanding for the use of Paracetamol in children including the route, frequency and dose of administration was felt to be important, to aid in focusing further education in the use of Paracetamol in the pre-hospital setting.
Many countries advocate rectal administration of medications, including Paracetamol, which is not commonly used in the UK. The rectal route of administration is important in children who are vomiting or those where oral administration of Paracetamol is challenging.
An anonymous survey was developed to review the use of Paracetamol in children outside of the hospital setting. The survey will be distributed to parents/carers presenting to the Chelsea and Westminster PED with their child. The survey will be completed within the PED department by the parent/carer accompanying the child and should take up to 5minutes to complete.
The survey consists of questions looking into the reason for presenting to PED, whether Paracetamol has been administered pre-hospital and what dose/route Paracetamol was given. If no dose was given prior to attending PED, the reason for not administering medication was also assessed.
In addition, parental/carer opinion of using the rectal formulation of Paracetamol is being asked to assess whether this is a route of administration parents/carers would consider using in the pre-hospital setting. If parents/carers feel this is a suitable route, the PED may consider recommending this to parents at time of discharge to use in the home environment.
REC name
South West - Frenchay Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/SW/0131
Date of REC Opinion
13 May 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion