RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 A telephone survey to determine the experiences of children and their parents/carers, following the initiation of a new medicine JF European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy JO Eur J Hosp Pharm FD British Medical Journal Publishing Group SP ejhpharm-2016-000925 DO 10.1136/ejhpharm-2016-000925 A1 Jeff Aston A1 Keith A Wilson A1 Anthony Sinclair A1 David Terry YR 2017 UL http://ejhp.bmj.com/content/early/2017/07/16/ejhpharm-2016-000925.abstract AB Objective To determine what issues are experienced during the first few weeks of therapy by patients, and their parents/carers, when a child/young person has been prescribed a new medicine.Method One hundred patients aged ≤18 years of age prescribed a new medicine for ≥6 weeks were recruited from a single UK National Health Service specialist paediatric hospital outpatient pharmacy. Six weeks after the first dispensing of their new medicine the patient or their parent/carer received telephone follow-up by a researcher and verbally completed a questionnaire containing both open and closed questions. Patient or parent/carer experiences were identified and analysed using thematic analysis and descriptive statistics.Results Eighty-six participants were available for telephone follow-up. Six (7%) had not started their medicine. Paediatric patients and their parents/carers experienced a range of issues during the first few weeks after starting a new medicine. These included additional concerns/questions (24/80, 30%), administration issues (21/80, 26.3%), adverse effects (29/80, 36.3%) and obtaining repeat supplies (12/80, 15%). 32/80 (40%) participants occasionally forgot to take/administer their medicine and 18/80 (22.5%) omitted doses for reasons other than forgetting.Conclusions Paediatric patients and their parents/carers experience a range of issues during the first few weeks after starting a new medicine. Further research is required to determine the type of interventions that may further support medicines use in this group of patients.