Recent drug history in children visiting a pediatric emergency room and documentation in medical records.

AIMS

We performed a systematic analysis of which drugs, prescribed, over the counter (OTC), and/or natural remedies, children had used prior to visiting a pediatric emergency room (ER), and to compare this information with the documentation of drug use in the medical records.

METHODS

A questionnaire study was performed at a pediatric ER in a Swedish university hospital during 3 weeks in April 2008. The questionnaire was validated through an interview with a subgroup of participants. Only drug use associated with the time of that hospital visit was requested. Information was compared with information in medical records related to the same visit.

RESULTS

Two hundred and seventy-four children aged 0-18 (median 2) years were enrolled, representing 28% of the total number of patients visiting the ER within the time frame. Forty% (n = 109) of participants reported use of prescribed drugs, 65% (n = 172) OTC drugs, and 8% (n = 17) natural remedies prior to the ER visit. The most common drugs in the three groups were salbutamol, paracetamol, and omega fatty acids, respectively. In the medical records, no more than 50% of the reported drug intake could be found, representing 74% of prescribed drugs but only 34% of OTC drugs and 27% of natural remedies.

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of children had used drugs, both prescribed and OTC, before coming to the ER , but this drug intake, and especially that of nonprescribed drugs, was often not documented in the medical records.