Advances of Polypharmacy Issues in Pediatrics

A special issue of Children (ISSN 2227-9067). This special issue belongs to the section "Pediatric Drugs".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 April 2025 | Viewed by 539

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Hospital Pharmacy Department, Padua University Hospital, 35128 Padua, Italy
Interests: clinical pharmacy; pediatrics; polypharmacy; infectious diseases

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Guest Editor
Palliative Care and Pain Service, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy
Interests: pediatrics; palliative care; hospice

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Hospital Pharmacy Department, Padua University Hospital, 35128 Padua, Italy
Interests: pharmacy; polypharmacy; pharmacoepidemiology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to invite researchers and clinicians to contribute to this Special Issue, which seeks to address the challenges and solutions associated with polypharmacy in pediatric care, particularly among vulnerable populations.

Background and History: Polypharmacy, defined as the use of multiple medications, is a growing concern in pediatrics, particularly among fragile populations such as those in palliative care. The increased complexity of drug regimens in children often leads to issues like adverse drug reactions, drug interactions, and poor adherence, significantly impacting patient outcomes and their and caregivers’ quality of life.

Aim and Scope: This Special Issue aims to explore the latest developments in the understanding and management of polypharmacy in pediatric patients. It will emphasize solutions that enhance medication adherence and compliance, reduce drug-related problems, and improve care for vulnerable pediatric populations.

Cutting-edge Research: We seek contributions that offer innovative research into the challenges and opportunities surrounding polypharmacy in pediatrics, especially in children with complex medical needs. Topics such as clinical guidelines, adherence strategies, and risk mitigation will be prioritized.

What Kind of Papers We Are Soliciting: We invite original research, reviews, and case studies that address polypharmacy, adherence, and compliance in pediatric populations. Papers discussing practical approaches, intervention strategies, and policy recommendations to reduce drug-related issues are highly encouraged.

Dr. Daniele Mengato
Dr. Anna Zanin
Dr. Francesca Venturini
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Children is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • polypharmacy
  • adherence and compliance
  • fragile pediatric populations
  • patients and caregivers satisfaction
  • drug-related problems
  • drug–drug interactions
  • medication management in children
  • adverse drug reactions
  • clinical pharmacy
  • medication review

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

14 pages, 1417 KiB  
Article
Polypharmacy in Pediatric Palliative Care: Exploring Discrepancies Between Physicians and Pharmacists
by Daniele Mengato, Anna Zanin, Fernando Baratiri, Lisa Pivato, Laura Camuffo, Franca Benini and Francesca Venturini
Children 2025, 12(2), 124; https://doi.org/10.3390/children12020124 - 24 Jan 2025
Viewed by 336
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Off-label drug use is prevalent in pediatric care, particularly in pediatric palliative care (PPC), due to the scarcity of pediatric-specific formulations and clinical trials. Differences in perception between healthcare professionals regarding off-label prescriptions underscore the complexity of this practice and highlight [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Off-label drug use is prevalent in pediatric care, particularly in pediatric palliative care (PPC), due to the scarcity of pediatric-specific formulations and clinical trials. Differences in perception between healthcare professionals regarding off-label prescriptions underscore the complexity of this practice and highlight the need for improved collaboration to optimize therapeutic outcomes. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted from August to October 2021 at the PPC center of the University Hospital of Padova, Italy. Data were collected from medical records of 169 patients. Off-label prescriptions were independently assessed by two physicians and two clinical pharmacists using respective reference sources. Discrepancies were resolved through consensus. Statistical analyses included the χ2-test for categorical variables and t-tests for continuous data. Results: Among the 993 drug prescriptions analyzed, the pharmacists reported a higher proportion of off-label uses (32.9%) compared to the physicians (18.4%; p < 0.05). After a consensus, 26.5% of the prescriptions were identified as off-label, with 67.9% due to indications, 49.6% due to dosage, and 44.4% due to age discrepancies. Conclusions: This study suggests a high prevalence of off-label prescribing in pediatric palliative care (PPC) and highlights differing professional perspectives, underscoring the potential benefits of exploring standardized protocols and enhanced interdisciplinary collaboration. Enhanced communication between healthcare providers, alongside the development of registries and clinical trials, is essential for improving the safety and efficacy of off-label drug use in pediatric populations. A flexible regulatory framework and customized galenic formulations could further support these goals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances of Polypharmacy Issues in Pediatrics)
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