Parental report of medication acceptance among youth: implications for everyday practice.

OBJECTIVE

Evidence-based interventions for pill swallowing training exist but are primarily implemented in pediatric specialty hospitals. Given increasing interest in the translation of brief and effective interventions to the wider population, there is a need to examine medication acceptance in a normative sample.

METHODS

Participants (N = 304) completed the Medication Acceptance Survey, which assessed child/adolescent liquid and pill medication history and acceptance as well as parental interest in pill swallowing training.

RESULTS

Results showed that 30-40% of youth had rejected/refused a pill or liquid formulation. Over half were unable to swallow a standard size pill or small capsule. Despite these difficulties, most parents did not express interest in an empirically supported pill swallowing training intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

The results provide directions for future research as well as the translation of pill swallowing interventions to primary care.