TY - JOUR
T1 - Parental Attitude Towards the Prescription of Psychotropic Medications for Mental Disorders in Children in a Tertiary Care University Hospital in Oman
AU - Al-Harthi, Hiba
AU - Al-Huseini, Salim
AU - Al-Shukaili, Mohammed
AU - Chan, Moon Fai
AU - Al-Mahrouqi, Tamadhir
AU - Al-Breiki, Mohammed
AU - Al-Hosni, Amira
AU - Mirza, Hassan
N1 - © Copyright 2023, Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, All Rights Reserved.
PY - 2022/8/23
Y1 - 2022/8/23
N2 - OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate parental attitude towards psychotropic drugs' use for children's mental disorders.METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2020 to March 2021 at the Department of Behavioural Medicine, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman. A questionnaire was used to determine parents' opinions and attitudes about use of psychotropic medications on their children and, in a small proportion, other caregivers if the child attended with them. Risk factors associated with parents who preferred to consult a folk healer (FH) for children with mental disorders were identified by the logistic regression model.RESULTS: A total of 299 parents participating in the study (response rate: 95.2%). Most (n = 244, 81.6%) agreed to give their child psychotropic medications if necessary, but 25.4% (n = 76) would consult an FH before a psychiatrist. Married parents were 14.5 times (
P = 0.011) more likely than separated or divorced parents to consult an FH. Caregivers with a monthly income below 500 OMR and between 500 and 1,000 OMR were 2.5 (
P = 0.016) and 3.2 times (
P <0.001), respectively, more likely than those with more than 1,000 OMR to consult an FH. Parents who disagreed with giving their children psychotropic medications were 3.8 times (
P <0.001) more likely to consult an FH than parents who agreed to give them if necessary.
CONCLUSION: Most parents agreed to give their children psychotropic medications if necessary. However, a proportion of parents and caregivers preferred to consult an FH before accessing mental health services.
AB - OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate parental attitude towards psychotropic drugs' use for children's mental disorders.METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2020 to March 2021 at the Department of Behavioural Medicine, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman. A questionnaire was used to determine parents' opinions and attitudes about use of psychotropic medications on their children and, in a small proportion, other caregivers if the child attended with them. Risk factors associated with parents who preferred to consult a folk healer (FH) for children with mental disorders were identified by the logistic regression model.RESULTS: A total of 299 parents participating in the study (response rate: 95.2%). Most (n = 244, 81.6%) agreed to give their child psychotropic medications if necessary, but 25.4% (n = 76) would consult an FH before a psychiatrist. Married parents were 14.5 times (
P = 0.011) more likely than separated or divorced parents to consult an FH. Caregivers with a monthly income below 500 OMR and between 500 and 1,000 OMR were 2.5 (
P = 0.016) and 3.2 times (
P <0.001), respectively, more likely than those with more than 1,000 OMR to consult an FH. Parents who disagreed with giving their children psychotropic medications were 3.8 times (
P <0.001) more likely to consult an FH than parents who agreed to give them if necessary.
CONCLUSION: Most parents agreed to give their children psychotropic medications if necessary. However, a proportion of parents and caregivers preferred to consult an FH before accessing mental health services.
KW - Child
KW - Cross-Sectional Studies
KW - Hospitals
KW - Humans
KW - Mental Disorders/drug therapy
KW - Oman
KW - Parents
KW - Prescriptions
KW - Psychotropic Drugs/therapeutic use
KW - Tertiary Healthcare
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85161989319&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85161989319&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/b5a5278b-e9ec-3a97-8070-c4ea686aafbe/
U2 - 10.18295/squmj.8.2022.049
DO - 10.18295/squmj.8.2022.049
M3 - Article
C2 - 37377817
AN - SCOPUS:85161989319
SN - 2075-051X
VL - 23
SP - 190
EP - 197
JO - Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal
JF - Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal
IS - 2
ER -