@article {Aston266, author = {Jeff Aston and Keith A Wilson and Anthony Sinclair and David Terry}, title = {A telephone survey to determine the experiences of children and their parents/carers, following the initiation of a new medicine}, volume = {24}, number = {5}, pages = {266--271}, year = {2017}, doi = {10.1136/ejhpharm-2016-000925}, publisher = {BMJ Specialist Journals}, abstract = {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\%). The Morisky Medication Adherence Scale indicated that 34/78 (43.6\%) participants had a high adherence rating, 35/78 (44.9\%) medium and 9/78 (11.5\%) a low rating.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.}, issn = {2047-9956}, URL = {https://ejhp.bmj.com/content/24/5/266}, eprint = {https://ejhp.bmj.com/content/24/5/266.full.pdf}, journal = {European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy} }