Physician and Parent Response to the FDA Advisory About Use of Over-the-Counter Cough and Cold Medications
Received 6 January 2009; accepted 10 July 2009. published online 12 October 2009.
Objective
The aim of this study was to assess the likely impact of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory not to use over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold products for children aged <2 years on care provided by pediatricians and parents.
Methods
A mailed survey was completed by 105 community pediatricians (53% response rate), and 1265 parents with children aged <12 years completed a self-administered survey while waiting for an office visit.
Results
All physicians were aware of the advisory; 75% agreed with it. Fifty-nine percent did not recommend OTC cough and cold products for children aged <2 years before the advisory, and 35% were less likely to do so afterward. Seventy-three percent of parents were aware of the advisory, 70% believed these products relieved symptoms, 68% did not believe they were dangerous, and 74% had them at home. After the advisory, 21% of parents were more likely to request an antibiotic from the doctor. Among the parents, 225 only had children aged <2 years and 695 only had children aged 2 to 11 years; of these parental groups, 53% and 10% of parents, respectively, did not use these products before the advisory, an additional 33% and 28%, respectively, were less likely to do so afterward, and 15% and 61%, respectively, would continue use them.
Conclusions
Pediatricians must be prepared for requests from parents for antibiotics and other remedies for symptom relief for their children with colds. As no effective alternatives are available, maybe nontreatment should be promoted.
Departments of Pediatrics (Dr Garbutt, Dr Sterkel, Ms Banister, Ms Walbert, Dr Strunk) and Medicine (Dr Garbutt and Ms Banister), Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Mo; and St. Louis Children's Hospital, St. Louis, Mo (Dr Sterkel)
Address correspondence to Jane Garbutt, MB, ChB, Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, Campus Box 8116, 660 S Euclid Ave, St. Louis, Missouri 63110.
ABSTRACT