Insights on pediatric medication initiation: perceptions of caregivers and children
IntroductionChildren fail to initiate a high proportion of medications but little is known about motivations for non-initiation.ObjectiveTo explore the factors affecting the decision to initiate a medication prescribed to children from caregivers’ and children’s perspectives.MethodsQualitative study...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Pharmacology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1612169/full |
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| author | Maria Rubio-Valera Maria Rubio-Valera Maria Rubio-Valera Maria Rubio-Valera Cristina Carbonell-Duacastella Cristina Carbonell-Duacastella Maite Peñarrubia-María Maite Peñarrubia-María Maite Peñarrubia-María Eva Pacheco Eva Pacheco Patricia Gabriela-Ricciardeli Ignacio Aznar-Lou Ignacio Aznar-Lou Montserrat Gil-Girbau Montserrat Gil-Girbau |
| author_facet | Maria Rubio-Valera Maria Rubio-Valera Maria Rubio-Valera Maria Rubio-Valera Cristina Carbonell-Duacastella Cristina Carbonell-Duacastella Maite Peñarrubia-María Maite Peñarrubia-María Maite Peñarrubia-María Eva Pacheco Eva Pacheco Patricia Gabriela-Ricciardeli Ignacio Aznar-Lou Ignacio Aznar-Lou Montserrat Gil-Girbau Montserrat Gil-Girbau |
| author_sort | Maria Rubio-Valera |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionChildren fail to initiate a high proportion of medications but little is known about motivations for non-initiation.ObjectiveTo explore the factors affecting the decision to initiate a medication prescribed to children from caregivers’ and children’s perspectives.MethodsQualitative study based on Grounded theory using a constructivist approach. Twenty-one caregivers and six children (<18 years old) were individually interviewed between 2021 and 2022 in Spain using a semi-structured thematic guide. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed by pharmacists, pediatricians and family physicians through a constant comparative analysis and results were internally audited.ResultsCaregivers and healthcare professionals are the central figures involved in the decision-making process regarding treatment initiation; children were rarely involved. Caregivers, usually mothers, made a risk-benefit evaluation based on the perception of the disease and the medication, which was influenced by intrapersonal factors (emotional burden, health literacy and stigma); children-related factors (age, treatment and emotional burden); and factors related to the professionals (accessibility, discourse alignment, information, respect and emotional support, trust and specialty); healthcare system (trust and use of e-consultations) and context (media, peer pressure and social stigma).ConclusionThe decision to initiate medication in the pediatric population is multifactorial and influenced by perceptions on the disease and treatment, intrapersonal factors related to the caregivers and children, and interpersonal factors and factors related to the healthcare system and contexts. An informed, shared decision-making process that considers both the participation of children and the needs for support from caregivers when prescribing a treatment could promote initiation in the pediatric population. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8e56a87042e0405b8b6e58cc8a02e456 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1663-9812 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Pharmacology |
| spelling | doaj-art-8e56a87042e0405b8b6e58cc8a02e4562025-08-20T02:03:16ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122025-06-011610.3389/fphar.2025.16121691612169Insights on pediatric medication initiation: perceptions of caregivers and childrenMaria Rubio-Valera0Maria Rubio-Valera1Maria Rubio-Valera2Maria Rubio-Valera3Cristina Carbonell-Duacastella4Cristina Carbonell-Duacastella5Maite Peñarrubia-María6Maite Peñarrubia-María7Maite Peñarrubia-María8Eva Pacheco9Eva Pacheco10Patricia Gabriela-Ricciardeli11Ignacio Aznar-Lou12Ignacio Aznar-Lou13Montserrat Gil-Girbau14Montserrat Gil-Girbau15Health Technology Assessment in Primary Care and Mental Health (PRISMA) Research Group, Teaching, Research and Innovation Unit, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, de Llobregat, SpainParc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Sant Boi de Llobregat, SpainCIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, SpainSchool of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, SpainHealth Technology Assessment in Primary Care and Mental Health (PRISMA) Research Group, Teaching, Research and Innovation Unit, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, de Llobregat, SpainCIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, SpainCIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, SpainPrimary Care Center Bartomeu Fabrés Anglada, Gerencia Territorial Metropolitana Sud, Institut Català de la Salut, Gavà, SpainFundació Institut Universitari per a la recerca a l’Atenció Primària de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina (IDIAPJGol), Barcelona, SpainFundació Institut Universitari per a la recerca a l’Atenció Primària de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina (IDIAPJGol), Barcelona, SpainPrimary Care Center Alhambra, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Direcció d’Atenció Primària Costa de Ponent, Institut Català de la Salut, Barcelona, SpainParc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Sant Boi de Llobregat, SpainHealth Technology Assessment in Primary Care and Mental Health (PRISMA) Research Group, Teaching, Research and Innovation Unit, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, de Llobregat, SpainCIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, SpainHealth Technology Assessment in Primary Care and Mental Health (PRISMA) Research Group, Teaching, Research and Innovation Unit, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, de Llobregat, SpainResearch Network on Chronicity, Primary Healthcare and Health Promotion (RICAPPS), Barcelona, SpainIntroductionChildren fail to initiate a high proportion of medications but little is known about motivations for non-initiation.ObjectiveTo explore the factors affecting the decision to initiate a medication prescribed to children from caregivers’ and children’s perspectives.MethodsQualitative study based on Grounded theory using a constructivist approach. Twenty-one caregivers and six children (<18 years old) were individually interviewed between 2021 and 2022 in Spain using a semi-structured thematic guide. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed by pharmacists, pediatricians and family physicians through a constant comparative analysis and results were internally audited.ResultsCaregivers and healthcare professionals are the central figures involved in the decision-making process regarding treatment initiation; children were rarely involved. Caregivers, usually mothers, made a risk-benefit evaluation based on the perception of the disease and the medication, which was influenced by intrapersonal factors (emotional burden, health literacy and stigma); children-related factors (age, treatment and emotional burden); and factors related to the professionals (accessibility, discourse alignment, information, respect and emotional support, trust and specialty); healthcare system (trust and use of e-consultations) and context (media, peer pressure and social stigma).ConclusionThe decision to initiate medication in the pediatric population is multifactorial and influenced by perceptions on the disease and treatment, intrapersonal factors related to the caregivers and children, and interpersonal factors and factors related to the healthcare system and contexts. An informed, shared decision-making process that considers both the participation of children and the needs for support from caregivers when prescribing a treatment could promote initiation in the pediatric population.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1612169/fullpediatricsmedication adherencequalitative researchmedicationpatient participation |
| spellingShingle | Maria Rubio-Valera Maria Rubio-Valera Maria Rubio-Valera Maria Rubio-Valera Cristina Carbonell-Duacastella Cristina Carbonell-Duacastella Maite Peñarrubia-María Maite Peñarrubia-María Maite Peñarrubia-María Eva Pacheco Eva Pacheco Patricia Gabriela-Ricciardeli Ignacio Aznar-Lou Ignacio Aznar-Lou Montserrat Gil-Girbau Montserrat Gil-Girbau Insights on pediatric medication initiation: perceptions of caregivers and children Frontiers in Pharmacology pediatrics medication adherence qualitative research medication patient participation |
| title | Insights on pediatric medication initiation: perceptions of caregivers and children |
| title_full | Insights on pediatric medication initiation: perceptions of caregivers and children |
| title_fullStr | Insights on pediatric medication initiation: perceptions of caregivers and children |
| title_full_unstemmed | Insights on pediatric medication initiation: perceptions of caregivers and children |
| title_short | Insights on pediatric medication initiation: perceptions of caregivers and children |
| title_sort | insights on pediatric medication initiation perceptions of caregivers and children |
| topic | pediatrics medication adherence qualitative research medication patient participation |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1612169/full |
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