0768 Melatonin use for sleep disturbance in school-aged children and adolescents: An Australian pharmacy perspective
| العنوان: | 0768 Melatonin use for sleep disturbance in school-aged children and adolescents: An Australian pharmacy perspective |
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| المؤلفون: | Samantha Lee, Kingston Yeung, Yu Sun Bin, Janet Cheung |
| المصدر: | SLEEP. 46:A339-A339 |
| بيانات النشر: | Oxford University Press (OUP), 2023. |
| سنة النشر: | 2023 |
| مصطلحات موضوعية: | Physiology (medical), Neurology (clinical) |
| الوصف: | Introduction Melatonin is a widely used pediatric sleep aid. While readily available internationally, regulatory changes in Australia have only recently allowed over-the-counter access for patients aged over 55, triggering renewed public interest in melatonin. However, melatonin access for younger patients with sleep disturbances remains a prescription-only medicine. Furthermore, pharmacist opinions about the use of melatonin in pediatric patients remain unexplored. This study aimed to investigate Australian community pharmacists’ perspectives toward melatonin use in school-aged children and adolescents. Methods A qualitative study was conducted in a convenience sample of community pharmacists/interns practicing in metropolitan Sydney. Participants completed an online questionnaire capturing demographic information and practice context. Participants subsequently indicated their interest in participating in an in-depth semi-structured interview. Interviews were guided by a schedule of questions exploring pharmacists’ knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes toward melatonin use in pediatric patients. The interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using the Framework Approach to identify emergent themes. Recruitment continued until thematic saturation was reached. Results Twenty-four interviews were conducted with pharmacists (n=19) and interns (n=5). Participants were mostly female (67%) with a mean age of 29.8 (range: 22-56) years. Pharmacists managed 25.3 (1-300) sleep-related inquiries per day on average and received direct product requests for melatonin 15.9 (2-100) times per week. Preliminary analyses identified three key themes: Conflicting Opinions on Safety, Product Cost and Formulation Availability, and Gaps in Clinical Education. Pharmacists’ involvement in pediatric melatonin use has largely been within the domains of dispensing or compounding prescriptions. While melatonin was perceived as a “better choice over other sedatives” for children, pharmacists expressed uncertainty about the evidence base concerning long-term use in younger age groups, relying heavily on physicians for prescribing discretion and patient supervision. The need for affordable proprietary products with flexible dosing options and targeted education around melatonin and circadian sleep health was also expressed by participants. Conclusion Findings allude to the need for greater availability and accessibility of pediatric-specific melatonin formulations, as well as refinement of clinical education resources that specifically address the use of melatonin among school-aged children and adolescents. Support (if any) |
| تدمد: | 1550-9109 0161-8105 |
| الوصول الحر: | https://explore.openaire.eu/search/publication?articleId=doi_________::63ca776bcfe23472d4852f9ad6266c08Test https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsad077.0768Test |
| حقوق: | CLOSED |
| رقم الانضمام: | edsair.doi...........63ca776bcfe23472d4852f9ad6266c08 |
| قاعدة البيانات: | OpenAIRE |
| تدمد: | 15509109 01618105 |
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