Considering formulation characteristics when prescribing and dispensing medicinal products for children: a qualitative study among GPs and pharmacists.

Background: Finding appropriate medicinal product formulations and dosage forms for children can be challenging. Knowledge about considerations behind which medicinal product to prescribe or dispense for children is lacking.

Objective: To explore considerations of formulation characteristics of medicinal products made by GPs when prescribing and by pharmacists when dispensing medicines for children 0-6 years of age.

Method: A qualitative study was performed by conducting three semi-structured focus groups with GPs and three with pharmacists, using nearly identical thematic interview guides. Analysis was performed using systematic text condensation.

Results: Both GPs and pharmacists considered whether children and parents were willing and able to use medicinal products such as tablets and poor-tasting liquids before prescribing and dispensing them. These considerations were commonly based on health care workers' prior experiences, although parents and sometimes children were asked about their experiences with solid formulations. For antibiotics, GPs primarily wanted to prescribe first-choice antibiotics according to guidelines. Parents' concerns about getting the child to take the medicinal product due to poor taste could lead to the prescription of second-choice antibiotics. The pharmacists sometimes changed the prescribed formulation at parents' request but never changed the type of antibiotic without contacting the prescriber.

Conclusion: Formulation characteristics strongly influenced which medicinal product children were prescribed and dispensed. Individualizing formulation choices for children through an increased collaboration between physicians, pharmacists and parents is suggested.