Vios, Ira Velle J.

NCM 103 – Lecture

A Focus Group Study about Oral Drug Administration Practices at Hospital Wards-
Aspects to Consider in Drug Development of Age-Appropriate Formulations for Children

A paucity of age-appropriate medication products and the usage of medicines off-

label define oral drug delivery to juvenile patients. However, medication administration
techniques in hospital wards have received little attention. The purpose of this study was
to investigate oral drug administration practices on pediatric hospital wards, with a focus on
experiences and challenges encountered, methods used to mitigate existing problems,
drug manipulation habits, perceptions about oral dosage forms, and future oral dosage form
needs for children. This was a qualitative study that included focus group talks with
physicians, nurses, and clinical pharmacists in a tertiary university hospital with the goal of
presenting a comprehensive picture of this research issue. These healthcare experts
identified several administration problems, which were categorised as dose form-related or
patient-related. It was observed that there was a paucity of depot formulations produced
specifically for children, as well as oral pediatric dose forms of pharmacological substances
that were previously only accessible as intravenous dosage forms. Oral liquids and or
dispersible pills were the favored oral dosing options. Patient-centered medication
administration practices were discovered, including elements that facilitate drug
administration both on hospital wards and at home following patient discharge. All
healthcare experts underlined the need of effective collaboration in drug prescribing and
administration, as well as teaching the child's caretakers in proper administration practices
before to release and enhancing the entire discharge process of patients. This study adds
to the widely held belief that novel dose forms for children of various ages and stages of
development are still required. It also provides a comprehensive perspective on many
elements of oral medication administration to pediatric patients and overall patient-centered
drug administration procedures.

Population/Patient Problem

This study adds to the widely held belief that novel dose forms for children of various
ages and stages of development are still required. It also provides a comprehensive
perspective on many elements of oral medication administration to pediatric patients and
overall patient-centered drug administration procedures.

Intervention

This was a qualitative study that included focus group talks with physicians, nurses,
and clinical pharmacists in a tertiary university hospital with the goal of presenting a
comprehensive picture of this research issue. These healthcare experts identified several
administration problems, which were categorized as dose form-related or patient-related. It
was observed that there was a paucity of depot formulations produced specifically for
children, as well as oral pediatric dose forms of pharmacological substances that were
previously only accessible as intravenous dosage forms. Oral liquids and or dispersible pills
were the favored oral dosing options. Patient-centered medication administration practices
were discovered, including elements that facilitate drug administration both on hospital
wards and at home following patient discharge.

Comparison

All healthcare experts underlined the need of effective collaboration in drug

prescribing and administration, as well as teaching the child's caretakers in proper
administration practices before to release and enhancing the entire discharge process of
patients. This study adds to the widely held belief that novel dose forms for children of
various ages and stages of development are still required. It also provides a comprehensive
perspective on many elements of oral medication administration to pediatric patients and
overall patient-centered drug administration procedures.

Outcome

The purpose of this study was to investigate oral drug administration practices on
pediatric hospital wards, with a focus on experiences and challenges encountered,
methods used to mitigate existing problems, drug manipulation habits, perceptions about
oral dosage forms, and future oral dosage form needs for children.

Time

Focus group discussion lasted for 2 hours.

Bibliography

Rautamo, M., Kvarnström, K., Sivén, M., Airaksinen, M., Lahdenne, P., & Sandler,
N. (2020). A Focus Group Study about Oral Drug Administration Practices at Hospital
Wards-Aspects to Consider in Drug Development of Age-Appropriate Formulations for
Children. Pharmaceutics, 12(2), 109. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics12020109