SEARCHCROSS-SECTIONALpediatrics, public health

cross-sectional·pediatrics, public health, epidemiology, clinical trial, observational study·PMC10390094

Paediatric medicine issues and gaps from healthcare workers point of view: survey results and a narrative review from the global accelerator for paediatric formulations project

Frontiers in Pharmacology · 7 authors, 5 centres

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TL;DR

The most frequently reported missing paediatric formulations were ciprofloxacin and phenobarbital.

Full summary

916 CHARS

The study describes a cross-sectional survey conducted to inform the revision of the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines for Children (EMLc). A total of 455 respondents listed problematic or missing paediatric formulations. The results identified ciprofloxacin and phenobarbital as the most frequently mentioned missing products. The discussion highlights the clinical implications of these gaps, such as challenges in treating infections and seizures, and notes that the survey findings were presented to a WHO consultation to propose changes to the EMLc, including the removal of 17 suboptimal formulations and addition of 45 new age-appropriate ones. The limitations include an undefined response rate, focus on public sector workers, potential geographic representation gaps, and validation only in English. The study provides a direct, provider-reported perspective to guide policy and development priorities.

STUDY TYPE

cross-sectional

SPECIALTY

pediatrics

SUMMARISED BY

AI pipeline

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100% · A

ORIGINAL PAPER

PMC10390094

Paediatric medicine issues and gaps from healthcare workers point of view: survey results and a narrative review from the global accelerator for paediatric formulations project

Frontiers in Pharmacology

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ABSTRACT

Abstract The WHO Model List of Essential Medicines for Children (EMLc) has not been systematically revised in the last few years. We conducted a survey addressed to healthcare professionals prescribing, preparing, or administering medicines to children and a narrative review to identify problematic paediatric formulations or missing medicines in all therapeutic fields to inform the review of the EMLc in 2023. A total of 285 physicians (63%), 28 nurses (6%) and 142 pharmacists (31%), mostly working in the hospital setting, reported at least one problematic medicine. 290 medicines were reported as missing (completely or the child-appropriate formulation). The top three most mentioned were ciprofloxacin together with phenobarbital and omeprazole. 387 medicines were reported as problematic (34% were oral liquid formulations, 34% tablets, 18% parenteral preparations. Mostly of the products were antibacterials (27%), cardiovascular medicines (11%) and antivirals (11%). The obtained responses show the perspective of healthcare workers working around the world, particularly in the European region (25%), in the African region (24%), and in the Region of the Americas (19%), with limited representation from Northern Africa and the Middle East. Our results need to be analysed with the outputs of other ongoing works before specific products can enter the WHO-hosted Global Accelerator for Paediatric formulations network prioritisation process. Efforts to develop appropriate formulations for children should be accelerated so that the uncertainties associated with off-label drug preparation and use are minimised, and therapeutic benefits are optimised. Keywords: medicine access, essential medicines, children, paediatric formulation, survey

CITATION EXPORT

Elisa Barbieri, Chiara Minotti, Sara Cavagnis et al.. Paediatric medicine issues and gaps from healthcare workers point of view: survey results and a narrative review from the global accelerator for paediatric formulations project. Frontiers in Pharmacology. (2023). https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2023.1200848

AUTHORS

7 · 5 CENTRES

Elisa Barbieri, Chiara Minotti, Sara Cavagnis, Carlo Giaquinto, Bernadette Cappello, Martina Penazzato, Marc Lallemant

1 Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
2 Penta—Child Health Research, Padova, Italy
3 Department of Health Products Policy and Standards, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
4 WHO Research for Health Department, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
5 Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand