User study on the practicalities of paediatric drug delivery!

1. How to give oral medicine to a child in the middle of the night.
START:
Child: generalised
medical excuse for not
going to sleep
Parent: Have a
glass of water
and go to bed.
Success: what are the
chances of that?
Social services arrive in
morning to discuss
negligent care of ill child
not being given
medicine: well at least
in the parent’s
nightmares.
Escalates to
TABLET
Child spits
out due to
bad taste
masking
Sticky half eaten tablet found down
back of sofa in 6 months time
Child nearly
chokes on
tablet-
finally spits
out after
much
slapping on
back
Escalates to
SYRUP
Because parent cannot
read label in dark
without glasses,
formulation chosen by
child on basis of
flavour it likes.
Parent goes to
bed
Learning by parent:
only buy medicines
children can swallow
Because parent cannot
read label, child reads
and decides on dose
based on how much they
like the flavour
Learning by parent:
only buy in
premetered
medicines
Get approximate
dose on spoon
Get approximate
dose in oral syringe
Trip over dog in
dark
Trip over dog in
dark
Spill syrup over child
and dog
Spill syrup over child
Voice from child’s bedroom:
Dad: what was the honey for?
Put both in washing
machine
Put in washing
machine
Child spits out
remainder of
medicine that
actually got
swallowed as taste
masking
deteriorated.
Learning by parent: only
buy medicines with
proper taste masking
Failure: Parent
(Escalates): Here is a spoon of
honey. Now go back to bed.
Learning by child: think
faster and do not let
yourself be fobbed off the
next time.
Failure: Parent
(Escalates): Finally goes to
medicine cabinet
Learning by parent: only
buy medicines with
proper taste masking
Parent goes to
bed
Learning by parent:
only buy medicines
in forms that cannot
be spilt
Learning by parent: only
buy medicines with a
clear proof of
compliance
Escalates to
SPRINKLES
Gives to child
Pours half of it
down front
Parent reads
instructions
Receives child’s
exotic and specific
requirements for
food.
Learning by parent: only
buy medicines the child
can take themselves
intuitively
Escalates to
X STRAW
Gives to child
Drinks
Gives parent a hug
Child and parent go
to bed.
Learning by parent:
giving medicines to
children is simple
A S Holmes 080816