SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Parental Barriers to Pediatric Medication Management in Underserved Communities

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This study explored why parents in low-income, underserved communities struggle to manage their children’s medications. The researchers noted that medication non-adherence is common after hospital or ED discharge, and that some parents have difficulty even identifying their child’s medicines.<br /><br />To better understand these barriers, the team conducted focus groups from December 2019 to September 2020 with three groups: English-speaking parents, Spanish-speaking parents, and pediatric healthcare providers. Parent participants were recruited from pediatric clinics and community partners in City Heights, San Diego. Eligible parents had a child age 0–12 who had been prescribed a medication in the prior 6 months and were primarily responsible for managing the medication.<br /><br />Several major themes emerged. Parents and providers described poor communication as a key problem, including unclear instructions and difficulty understanding dosing directions. Parents also expressed distrust of medications, especially when treatment lasted longer than expected or caused side effects. Many parents wanted doctors to discuss alternatives, including natural or over-the-counter remedies, rather than prescribing medication immediately. Another barrier was access to providers: parents sometimes delayed asking questions because reaching the doctor could take too long. Providers highlighted a lack of child-specific medication education resources, since many existing systems are designed for adults. Additional challenges included gaps in parental knowledge or skills, difficulty administering medications to children, and the burden of managing multiple medications at once.<br /><br />Overall, the study found that medication management barriers are not only practical but also tied to beliefs, preferences, and access to information. The authors concluded that parents want clear, complete guidance and more options, while providers need better pediatric-focused educational tools. Future work should test parent-centered interventions to improve medication adherence.

Asset Subtitle

Tiranun Rungvivatjarus

Meta Tag

Author List Britanny Winckler, Erin Fisher, Kyung Rhee, Maria Huang, Scarlett Chen, Tiranun Rungvivatjarus

Category Research

Concept Parental Barrier

Concept Pediatric Medication

Concept Adherence

Concept Medication Instructions

Concept Medication Administration

Concept Medication Management

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization Ucsd

Presenting Author Tiranun Rungvivatjarus

Track Pediatric

Keywords

medication adherence

parental barriers

pediatric medications

low-income communities

health communication

dose instructions

provider trust

focus groups

medication education

child medication management

Parental Barrier

Pediatric Medication

Adherence

Medication Instructions

Medication Administration

Medication Management