Acute cough in Italian children: parents’ beliefs, approach to treatment, and the family impact
Abstract Background Acute cough is the most common symptom among children in primary care, but the impact of cough episodes was never investigated in Italian families. Methods A cross-sectional telephone survey was conducted on a representative sample of Italian families, randomly selected from gene...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
PAGEPress Publications
2019-04-01
|
| Series: | Multidisciplinary Respiratory Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40248-019-0180-9 |
| _version_ | 1797281771969052672 |
|---|---|
| author | Roberto W. Dal Negro Alessandro Zanasi Paola Turco Massimiliano Povero |
| author_facet | Roberto W. Dal Negro Alessandro Zanasi Paola Turco Massimiliano Povero |
| author_sort | Roberto W. Dal Negro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Acute cough is the most common symptom among children in primary care, but the impact of cough episodes was never investigated in Italian families. Methods A cross-sectional telephone survey was conducted on a representative sample of Italian families, randomly selected from general population; a specific and validated questionnaire was used. Results The sample (604 calls) was uniform by geographical distribution, and by children age and gender. Mean cough episode was 3.1/year, they were short lasting (only 4.7% > 2 weeks). Independent predictors of children cough episodes were parents’ active smoking habit and work (p < 0.05). The mean nursery/school absenteeism was mostly < 7 days, but of a 7–15-day duration in near 30% of cases. The pediatrician was contacted immediately only by 25% of parents and a second consultation (mostly a lung physician) usually occurred after 2–3 weeks of cough. Meanwhile, home/pharmacist suggested remedies were adopted in 50–70% of cases. Usual prescriptions were mucolytics (85.8%), antitussive agents (55.6%), non-steroideal anti-inflammatory drugs (33.8%), antibiotics (regularly or episodically 80%), and corticosteroids (systemic steroids in less than 50%, but via aerosol in more than 80% of cases). Moreover, pediatricians claimed to use homeopathic drugs regularly or episodically in almost 50%. The respondents’ willingness to spend out-of-pocket for an “effective remedy” against cough was of € 20 (>€ 30 in 18.4% of cases). Conclusions Parents’ actions against cough episodes were variable, depending on their beliefs, smoking habit, and occupational status. The parents’ perceived efficacy of usual prescriptions is poor, and their willingness to pay out-of-pocket for an “effective remedy” against cough is high. The interest for alternative treatments is not negligible in these circumstances. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T17:02:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c0cca2236a3b4ffda44589448c272de7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2049-6958 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T17:02:15Z |
| publishDate | 2019-04-01 |
| publisher | PAGEPress Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Multidisciplinary Respiratory Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-c0cca2236a3b4ffda44589448c272de72024-03-03T03:19:06ZengPAGEPress PublicationsMultidisciplinary Respiratory Medicine2049-69582019-04-011411810.1186/s40248-019-0180-9Acute cough in Italian children: parents’ beliefs, approach to treatment, and the family impactRoberto W. Dal Negro0Alessandro Zanasi1Paola Turco2Massimiliano Povero3National Centre for Respiratory Pharmacoeconomics and PharmacoepidemiologyItalian Association for Cough Study (AIST)Research & Clinical GovernanceAdRes Health Economics and Outcome ResearchAbstract Background Acute cough is the most common symptom among children in primary care, but the impact of cough episodes was never investigated in Italian families. Methods A cross-sectional telephone survey was conducted on a representative sample of Italian families, randomly selected from general population; a specific and validated questionnaire was used. Results The sample (604 calls) was uniform by geographical distribution, and by children age and gender. Mean cough episode was 3.1/year, they were short lasting (only 4.7% > 2 weeks). Independent predictors of children cough episodes were parents’ active smoking habit and work (p < 0.05). The mean nursery/school absenteeism was mostly < 7 days, but of a 7–15-day duration in near 30% of cases. The pediatrician was contacted immediately only by 25% of parents and a second consultation (mostly a lung physician) usually occurred after 2–3 weeks of cough. Meanwhile, home/pharmacist suggested remedies were adopted in 50–70% of cases. Usual prescriptions were mucolytics (85.8%), antitussive agents (55.6%), non-steroideal anti-inflammatory drugs (33.8%), antibiotics (regularly or episodically 80%), and corticosteroids (systemic steroids in less than 50%, but via aerosol in more than 80% of cases). Moreover, pediatricians claimed to use homeopathic drugs regularly or episodically in almost 50%. The respondents’ willingness to spend out-of-pocket for an “effective remedy” against cough was of € 20 (>€ 30 in 18.4% of cases). Conclusions Parents’ actions against cough episodes were variable, depending on their beliefs, smoking habit, and occupational status. The parents’ perceived efficacy of usual prescriptions is poor, and their willingness to pay out-of-pocket for an “effective remedy” against cough is high. The interest for alternative treatments is not negligible in these circumstances.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40248-019-0180-9Acute coughAcute cough in childrenParents’ beliefsPrescribing attitudeCough impact |
| spellingShingle | Roberto W. Dal Negro Alessandro Zanasi Paola Turco Massimiliano Povero Acute cough in Italian children: parents’ beliefs, approach to treatment, and the family impact Multidisciplinary Respiratory Medicine Acute cough Acute cough in children Parents’ beliefs Prescribing attitude Cough impact |
| title | Acute cough in Italian children: parents’ beliefs, approach to treatment, and the family impact |
| title_full | Acute cough in Italian children: parents’ beliefs, approach to treatment, and the family impact |
| title_fullStr | Acute cough in Italian children: parents’ beliefs, approach to treatment, and the family impact |
| title_full_unstemmed | Acute cough in Italian children: parents’ beliefs, approach to treatment, and the family impact |
| title_short | Acute cough in Italian children: parents’ beliefs, approach to treatment, and the family impact |
| title_sort | acute cough in italian children parents beliefs approach to treatment and the family impact |
| topic | Acute cough Acute cough in children Parents’ beliefs Prescribing attitude Cough impact |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40248-019-0180-9 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT robertowdalnegro acutecoughinitalianchildrenparentsbeliefsapproachtotreatmentandthefamilyimpact AT alessandrozanasi acutecoughinitalianchildrenparentsbeliefsapproachtotreatmentandthefamilyimpact AT paolaturco acutecoughinitalianchildrenparentsbeliefsapproachtotreatmentandthefamilyimpact AT massimilianopovero acutecoughinitalianchildrenparentsbeliefsapproachtotreatmentandthefamilyimpact |