E-drug: USP Position Statement
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Ten Guiding Principles for Teaching Children and Adolescents
About Medicines: A Position Statement of the United States
Pharmacopeia.
These principles are intended to encourage activities that will
help children, through adolescence, become active participants
in the process of using medicines* to the best of their abilities.
Recognizing that children of the same age vary in development,
experience, and capabilities, these principles do not specify
children's ages.
1. Children, as users of medicines, have a right to appropriate
information about their medicines that reflects the child's health
status, capabilities, and culture.
2. Children want to know. Health care providers and health
educators should communicate directly with children about their
medicines.
3. Children's interest in medicines should be encouraged, and
they should be taught how to ask questions of health care
providers, parents, and other care givers about medicines and
other therapies.
4. Children learn by example. The actions of parents and other
care givers should show children appropriate use of medicines.
5. Children, their parents, and their health care providers should
negotiate the gradual transfer of responsibility for medicine use
in ways that respect parental responsibilities and the health
status and capabilities of the child.
6. Children's medicine education should take into account what
children want to know about medicines, as well as what health
professionals think children should know.
7. Children should receive basic information about medicines
and their proper use as a part of school health education.
8. Children's medicine education should include information
about the general use and misuse of medicines, as well as
about the specific medicines the child is using.
9. Children have a right to information that will enable them to
avoid poisoning through the misuse of medicines.
10. Children asked to participate in clinical trials (after parents
consent) have a right to receive appropriate information to
promote their understanding before assent and participation.
* Medicines include all types: prescription medicines,
non-prescription medicines, herbal remedies, and nutritional
supplements such as vitamins and minerals.
Developed by the Division of Information Development, United
States Pharmacopeia. Primary responsibility resided with the
USP Pediatrics Advisory Panel and its Ad Hoc Advisory Panel
on Children and Medicines.
For further information contact:
Patricia J. Bush, PhD, tel. (301) 816-8118; eml: pjb@usp.org;
United States Pharmacopeia, 12601 Twinbrook Parkway,
Rockville, MD 20852