Parental pediatric corticosteroid preferences

Corticosteroids are often prescribed in the acute care management of asthma . Prednisolone can be administered intramuscularly (IM) or orally in 2 diff erent concentrations. This study evaluated parental preference for three pr ednisolone preparations based on the route of administration, taste, and Vo lume required. Accompanying adults (AAs) of pediatric patients were intervi ewed about their preferences based on the 3 factors. Those AAs who passed t he health screen (51 of 214) were asked to taste 2 oral prednisolone prepar ations and reinterviewed about their corticosteroid preferences. Of the 214 AAs, 96% were parents, Of the group, 43% preferred IM corticosteroids wher eas 40% preferred oral corticosteroids. Without considering taste as a fact or for oral corticosteroids, 94% preferred the more concentrated syrup comp ared with the less concentrated one, When told that the less concentrated s yrup tasted better, 58% preferred the less concentrated/better tasting syru p. After the 51 taste test subcohort subjects tasted the syrups, 96% prefer red the less con centrated/better tasting syrup over the more concentrated/ poorer tasting syrup. Taste is more important than volume of administration for this particular corticosteroid comparison. Simply asking parents about their IM/oral and syrup formulation preferences may be the easiest way of optimizing their treatment plan, (Am J Emerg Med 2001;19:29-31. Copyright ( C) 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company).