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Venckute G, Zekaite-Vaisniene E, Oniunaite U, Jankauskaite L. Younger Children with Respiratory Tract Infections Are More Exposed to Off-Label Treatments: An Exploratory Retrospective Study in a Pediatric Emergency Setting. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 11:735. [PMID: 38929314 PMCID: PMC11201448 DOI: 10.3390/children11060735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2024] [Revised: 05/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Off-label drug use is prevalent in the pediatric population and represents a patient safety concern. We aimed to identify factors for off-label drug use in our pediatric emergency department (PED). METHODS We performed a retrospective data analysis. All patients aged 0-18 referred to PED from 1 September to 1 October 2022, were included. Further analysis was performed when respiratory tract infections were diagnosed. DATA COLLECTED gender, age, triage group, chronic diseases, vital signs, and PED-prescribed treatment (medications, dosages, methods of administration). Statistical analysis used SPSS 28.0, with significance at p < 0.05. RESULTS Data from 473 patients were analyzed, median age 3.5 years. Chronic diseases were present in 17.1% of children. 387 medications were prescribed, 47.5% being off-label. Off-label treatment was common for external otitis, acute laryngitis, and acute bronchitis (p < 0.001). There was incorrect administration of tobramycin with dexamethasone for otitis (n = 16, 100%) and inappropriate use of salbutamol inhalations by age (34.8%, n = 16). Some medications were given orally instead of injections (ondansetron n = 5, 62.5%; dexamethasone n = 82, 98.7%) or intranasally instead of intravenously (IV) (midazolam n = 7, 87.5%). IV adrenalin was prescribed for inhalations (n = 46). Younger children were more likely to receive off-label treatment (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION Our study highlights the widespread issue of off-label and unlicensed drug prescribing in pediatric emergency care. Further research is necessary, because this reliance on off-label prescribing raises concerns about patient safety and compliance, especially given the limited clinical trials and therapeutic options available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greta Venckute
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, LT-44307 Kaunas, Lithuania;
| | - Erika Zekaite-Vaisniene
- Department of Neonatology, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, LT-50161 Kaunas, Lithuania;
| | - Urte Oniunaite
- Faculty of Medicine, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, LT-44307 Kaunas, Lithuania;
| | - Lina Jankauskaite
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, LT-44307 Kaunas, Lithuania;
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Mathevula H, Schellack N, Orubu S, Godman B, Matlala M. Off-Label and Unlicenced Medicine Use among Hospitalised Children in South Africa: Practice and Policy Implications. PHARMACY 2023; 11:174. [PMID: 37987384 PMCID: PMC10661306 DOI: 10.3390/pharmacy11060174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Information regarding off-label and unlicensed medicine use among South African children is limited. This is a concern as the prescribing of off-label and unlicensed medicines can lead to issues of effectiveness and safety as well as raise liability issues in the event of adverse events. This potentially exposes physicians to legal penalties. Consequently, we sought to determine the prevalence of off-label and unlicensed medicine use among paediatric patients in South Africa to provide future direction. METHODS This study retrospectively examined the use of medicine in a point-prevalence survey study (PPS) involving paediatric patients aged (0-2 years) admitted to selected public hospitals in Gauteng Province, South Africa. Data were collected per hospital over two days between February 2022 and July 2022. Demographics, duration of treatment, diagnosis, and medicines prescribed were collected from patient medical records using a mobile application. Prescribed medicines were reviewed against the medicine formularies and other databases to assess their appropriateness. RESULTS From three academic hospitals, 184 patient records were reviewed. A total of 592 medicines were dispensed, of which 379 (64.0%) were licensed and 213 (36.0%) were used off-label/unlicensed for paediatric patients 0-2 years of age. The most prevalent off-label and unlicensed medicines were multivitamins (n = 32, 15.0%) and ampicillin injections (n = 15, 7.0%). CONCLUSION The frequency of unlicensed and off-label medicine prescribing shown in this study is consistent with the literature and can be considered high. This practice can pose a risk because it adversely affects patients if not properly regulated. Attention is needed to ensure future high-quality, safe, and effective use of medicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hlayiseka Mathevula
- School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Molotlegi Street, Pretoria 0204, South Africa; (B.G.); (M.M.)
| | - Natalie Schellack
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0084, South Africa;
| | - Samuel Orubu
- Pharmacy Department, Niger Delta University, Yenagoa P.O. BOX 72, Nigeria;
- Global Strategy Lab, York University, Toronto, ON 4700, Canada
| | - Brian Godman
- School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Molotlegi Street, Pretoria 0204, South Africa; (B.G.); (M.M.)
- Department of Pharmacoepidemiology, Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Science (SIPBS), University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK
| | - Moliehi Matlala
- School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Molotlegi Street, Pretoria 0204, South Africa; (B.G.); (M.M.)
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Belayneh A, Abatneh E, Abebe D, Getachew M, Kebede B, Dessie B. Off-label medication use in pediatrics and associated factors at public hospitals in east Gojjam zone, Ethiopia. SAGE Open Med 2022; 10:20503121221096534. [PMID: 35600710 PMCID: PMC9118902 DOI: 10.1177/20503121221096534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Due to a lack of appropriate pediatric preparations, health providers frequently use adult formulations in an off-label manner. This study aimed to assess pediatric off-label medication use patterns and associated factors in East Gojjam, Ethiopia. Methods Institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2020 to June 2021 at three randomly selected hospitals. Data were collected by using self-structured questionnaires and a data abstraction checklist from health care workers and prescriptions, respectively. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 25. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between independent and dependent variables. Results A total of 285 eligible health professionals from the pediatric unit and pharmacies, and 1,800 eligible prescriptions were involved in the study. The response rate of healthcare workers was 94.37%. Around 74.4% of professionals had good knowledge about off-label medication. Only 8% of participants had taken training on pediatric off-label medications. Of all prescriptions, 27.6% of them have contained at least one off-label medication. Phenobarbitone (16.1%) and phenytoin (12.7%) were the most frequently prescribed off-label medication. In all, 496 (27.6%) prescriptions contained off-label drugs in the form of overdose, cutting adult tablets into small portions, and formulating tablets/capsules into solution. Lack of information on off-label prescribing, shortage of pediatric drugs, and suitable dosage forms showed significant association with off-label prescribing with p-value < 0.001. Conclusion Almost one-third of pediatric prescriptions contained off-label medication. Only a small number of healthcare workers had taken training on pediatric off-label medications. Lack of sufficient information on risks of off-label medication, shortage of pediatric medication, and suitable pediatric dosage forms were associated with the use of off-label medication compared to non-use. Further research should be done on the long-term effects associated with off-label prescribing in pediatrics to assess whether the potential risks are balanced with the therapeutical benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anteneh Belayneh
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
| | - Eyasu Abatneh
- School of Medicine, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
| | - Dehinnet Abebe
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
| | - Melese Getachew
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
| | - Bekalu Kebede
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
| | - Bekalu Dessie
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
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Al-Turkait A, Szatkowski L, Choonara I, Ojha S. Review of Drug Utilization Studies in Neonatal Units: A Global Perspective. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:E5669. [PMID: 32764503 PMCID: PMC7459677 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17165669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Rational prescribing is challenging in neonatology. Drug utilization studies help identify and define the problem. We performed a review of the literature on drug use in neonatal units and describe global variations. We searched databases (EMBASE, CINAHL and Medline) from inception to July 2020, screened studies and extracted relevant data (two reviewers). The search revealed 573 studies of which 84 were included. India (n = 14) and the USA (n = 13) reported the most. Data collection was prospective (n = 56) and retrospective (n = 26), mostly (n = 52) from one center only. Sixty studies described general drug use in 34 to 450,386 infants (median (IQR) 190 (91-767)) over a median (IQR) of 6 (3-18) months. Of the participants, 20-87% were preterm. The mean number of drugs per infant (range 11.1 to 1.7, pooled mean (SD) 4 (2.4)) was high with some reporting very high burden (≥30 drugs per infant in 8 studies). This was not associated with the proportion of preterm infants included. Antibiotics were the most frequently used drug. Drug use patterns were generally uniform with some variation in antibiotic use and more use of phenobarbitone in Asia. This study provides a global perspective on drug utilization in neonates and highlights the need for better quality information to assess rational prescribing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asma Al-Turkait
- Division of Graduate Entry Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK; (A.A.-T.); (I.C.)
| | - Lisa Szatkowski
- Division of Epidemiology and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK;
| | - Imti Choonara
- Division of Graduate Entry Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK; (A.A.-T.); (I.C.)
| | - Shalini Ojha
- Division of Graduate Entry Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK; (A.A.-T.); (I.C.)
- Neonatal Unit, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Trust, Derby DE22 3NE, UK
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Manfredini VA, Cerini C, Clavenna A, Dotta A, Caccamo ML, Staffler A, Massenzi L, Rezzonico RM. Furosemide use in Italian neonatal intensive care units: a national survey. Ital J Pediatr 2020; 46:86. [PMID: 32571386 PMCID: PMC7310123 DOI: 10.1186/s13052-020-00851-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Abstract Background Furosemide is approved in full term neonates to treat edema associated with congestive heart failure, cirrhosis and renal diseases. It is often administered off-label in premature neonates, to treat respiratory conditions and at doses greater-than-recommended. We conducted a national survey on behalf of the Neonatal Pharmacotherapy Study Group of the Italian Society of Neonatology (SIN), to investigate its use in Italian neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), in conformity with current guidelines. Methods Between December 2016 and June 2017, a 14-item multiple-choice online questionnaire was sent to all NICU directors from the SIN directory. Gestational age, route of administration, posology, indications, referenced guidelines, adverse effects monitoring and the presence of Paediatric Cardiology or Cardiosurgery service on site were assessed. A chi-square test was performed 1) to evaluate differences in the distribution of responses between NICUs administering furosemide at doses higher-than-recommended; 2) to compare the proportion of NICUs administering furosemide at high doses in institutions with versus without a Paediatric Cardiology or Cardiosurgery service. Results The response rate was 50% (57/114). The intravenous and oral routes were chosen primarily; the intravenous administration in single doses predominated over continuous infusion. Its main therapeutic indications were congestive heart failure/overload (94.7%) and oligo-anuria (87.7%) however furosemide was also frequently used for broncopulmonary dysplasia (50.9%) and respiratory distress syndrome and/or transient tachypnea of the newborn (24.6%). In 28/57 NICUs furosemide was administered at doses higher-than-recommended. In most NICUs the same posology was used in term and preterm neonates. Compared to the total sample, a larger proportion of NICUs administering doses greater-than-recommended referenced current literature for reasons to do so (19.3 and 32.1% respectively). The presence of a Paediatric Cardiology or Cardiosurgery service on site did not correlate with the chosen posology. The majority of NICUs performed acoustic test and renal ultrasound for furosemide exposure greater than 2 weeks. Conclusions In Italian NICUs, furosemide is commonly prescribed to term and preterm newborns for label and unlabeled indications. Doses greater-than-recommended are frequently administered. Such use is not necessarily inappropriate. More research is required to assess the efficacy and safety of unlabeled use.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chiara Cerini
- Children's Hospital Los Angeles, 4650 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA, 90027, USA
| | - Antonio Clavenna
- Department of Public Health, Laboratory for Mother and Child Health, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Dotta
- Department of Medical and Surgical Neonatology, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Bambino Gesù Children Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Letizia Caccamo
- Indipedent researcher, Former director of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Sant'Anna Hospital, Como, Italy
| | - Alex Staffler
- Division of Neonatology, Central teaching Hospital of Bolzano, Bozen, Italy
| | - Luca Massenzi
- Neonatology and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, "San Giovanni Calibita" Fatebenefratelli Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Rossano Massimo Rezzonico
- Indipendent researcher, Former director of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, ASST Rhodense, Via C. Forlanini 95, 20024, Milan, Italy
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