CHILDRENS KNOWLEDGE ABOUT MEDICINES

A model explaining children's knowledge about medicines and the percei ved benefit of medicines was constructed and estimated. The children's health belief model, cognitive development and social cognitive devel opment theories, combined with previous multimethod study results form the basis of the path analytic model analyzed. Children, aged 7 and 1 0 years, and their primary caregivers were interviewed during 1992 and 1993. Recruiting was done at summer camps in Chapel Hill, North Carol ina and environs, resulting in a convenience sample of 101 children, a ll white and middle class. Ordinary least squares regression was carri ed out in steps for the two model equations. Knowledge of medicines wa s most adequately explained, having age, educational environment and t he degree of internal locus of control as significant positive predict ors. The only significant predictor of the perceived benefit of medici nes was the negative effect of the internal locus of control, supporti ng results from former studies. Children's retention of drug advertisi ng had no significant effects in the model. The results from this mode rately sized study suggest promising directions for further developmen t of explanations of why children believe in the benefit of medicines.