Abstract
IntroductionOur aim was to examine potential risk factors and modifiable behaviors that could lead to pediatric poisonings. Our secondary objectives were to explore socioeconomic factors associated with caregiver (parent/guardian) safe medication storage and knowledge of poison control contact information.MethodsWe conducted a prospective, cross-sectional survey of caregivers of patients 2–10 years old presenting to an inner city pediatric emergency department. Caregiver and patient demographic data, prescription and nonprescription medication type, storage and when and where taken, were recorded. We used multivariable regression to explore factors associated with secure prescription medication storage and knowledge of poison control center contact information.ResultsOf 1457 caregivers, 29% took daily prescription and 17% took daily non-prescription medications. Only 25% of caregivers stored their prescription medications in a secure place, and <3% stored medications in a locked drawer or safe. Of demographic and socioeconomic factors, only income ≥$80,000 was associated with storage of prescription medication in a secure place (odds ratio [OR], 2.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.27–4.81). When asked how they would access poison control in case of an ingestion, the majority, 86%, had an appropriate plan. In multivariable regression, the only factor associated with knowledge of poison control center contact information was college education in the caregiver (OR 1.6; 95% CI, 1.10–2.32).ConclusionA minority of caregivers store medications in a safe place and even fewer keep prescription medications under lock and key. The majority, however, were aware of how to contact a poison control center in case of ingestion.
Highlights
Our aim was to examine potential risk factors and modifiable behaviors that could lead to pediatric poisonings
What was the major finding of the study? Parents frequently store and consume medications that are easy for children to access. How does this improve population health? The results of this study suggest that further outreach and education is necessary to improve medication storage to decrease opportunities for inadvertent pediatric ingestion
While many have an appropriate plan for reaching the poison control center in the case of an inadvertent ingestion, a sizable minority do not
Summary
Our aim was to examine potential risk factors and modifiable behaviors that could lead to pediatric poisonings. In 2014, nearly 2.2 million human exposures were reported to United States poison control centers.[1] Approximately 61%, or 1.3 million, were in the pediatric population (age ≤ 19 years), 88 of which resulted in fatality. Children younger than six years of age accounted for approximately half (47.7%) of all these exposures, with 16 reported fatalities.[1] Nearly 70% of ingestions in children aged 12 years and younger were the result of inadvertently taking or being given someone else’s medication.[1] as a result of unintentional medication ingestions, approximately 70,000 children, with the peak incidence in two-year-olds, were evaluated in emergency departments (ED) annually, of whom approximately 12% required hospitalization.[2,3,4,5,6].
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