Survey Shows Parents Still Using Pediatric Over-the-Counter Cough/Cold Medications Even When...

Majority Surveyed Want More Science-Based Natural Products

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. -- A new survey conducted in March 2009 by Harris Interactive([R]) and commissioned by Bionorica shows that while 90% of parents claim to be at least somewhat knowledgeable about the level of effectiveness

and the possible dangers associated with over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold products for children, 62% still give these products to children when they are experiencing cough and cold symptoms. Additionally, 16% of the general public had never heard about the possible dangers of current OTC cough and cold products for children.

"It's very concerning to me that so many parents are still giving their children these OTC cough and cold products with the possible associated dangers and the question of their effectiveness in children," said Marcela Dominguez, MD, certified family medicine physician on staff at Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center and in private practice in South Orange County.

The new survey also shows that 84% of the general public says they are at least somewhat knowledgeable about where to find credible information about OTCs. The media and the Internet were cited by a majority (70%) as a source of information about the possible dangers of these products with 73% of parents receiving information about this through the same channels. Less than half of parents (41%) say they have heard about the possible dangers of OTC cough and cold medications from a doctor and almost as many have heard this from family members or friends (39%).

Additionally, 60% of adults said they would be more likely to use a natural remedy if it was recommended by a doctor but the survey shows that 83% had never discussed natural remedies with their doctor and only 27% had even discussed the potential for dangerous drug interactions with their physicians.

"While the news media can be a good source of information for the public, information on the Internet is not always reliable nor should it replace the patient/physician dialogue," said Narinder Duggal, MD, internist, pharmacologist, and clinical associate professor, school of pharmacy, University of Washington. "It's alarming to me that so few people talk to their doctors about the effectiveness and dangers of health products before they take them or give them to their children."