Parents and caregivers experience in managing children's medicines after discharge from a New Zealand hospital.

Aim: To investigate the level of understanding parents/caregivers have regarding prescribed medicines for their sick children, and how they manage these medicines at home following hospital discharge.

Methods: English-speaking parents/caregivers of sick children were recruited if their child was admitted to Middlemore Hospital in New Zealand and prescribed two liquid medicines, specifically an analgesic and an antibiotic. A questionnaire was developed and used to interview parents/caregivers on three separate occasions. The questionnaire was firstly administered during their hospital stay; secondly, by telephone post-discharge; and thirdly via a home visit two to three days after the estimated completion date of the antibiotic course.

Results: Eighteen participants from the five main ethnic groups (Pacific Island n=7, NZ European n=5, Māori n=4, Asian n=2) completed all three interviews. Parents/caregivers had a reasonable understanding of the purpose of the medicines prescribed. Doctors, nurses and pharmacists provided variable medicines information to parents/caregivers on hospital discharge. Parents/caregivers used a variety of measuring equipment at home, but over a quarter (28%) were not supplied with an oral syringe to measure appropriate doses of medicines at home, and some lacked knowledge on safe storage and appropriate disposal of medicines.

Conclusion: This study found variation and gaps in the information for medicines provided at discharge. To facilitate the safe use of medicines, consistent and clear information about the use, storage and disposal of medicines needs to be provided by all healthcare professionals involved; and accurate measuring equipment should be provided free of charge with instructions.