Analysis of Pediatric Drug Dispensing Practice at Hospital Pharmacies

병원약국의 소아약 조제업무 분석

This study intended to investigate the pediatric drug dispensing practice at hospital pharmacies in order to provide the children with proper pharmaceutical care services. According to the study results, the most significant problem in dispensing pediatric drugs was that only a few pediatric drugs were supplied by the pharmaceutical companies in Korea. It was found that pediatric drugs like rifampicin, phenobarbital and theophylline should be produced in the form of syrup or powder, for the children to swallow drugs with ease. The study results also showed that only $35.5\%$ of the hospital pharmacists reviewed all the prescriptions issued by doctors. In most cases $(65.3\%)$ drug information was only provided when the patients asked to the pharmacists. The lack of working time and clinical information on the patients were found as major barriers. Thus in order to provide better pharmaceutical care services for the children, not only the pharmaceutical companies should pay attention to the production of pediatric drugs, but pharmacists should make every efforts on playing patient-oriented roles.