Kid Cards: Teaching Kids About Medicines

Official Title: “Kid Cards: Teaching Kids About Medicines”

This study is being done to see if education about medicines directed toward children will improve their knowledge. The investigators also want to know if this knowledge lasts over time. Right now there are few medication instructional cards that are appropriate for children. Most of the medication cards provide information for adults. Some studies have shown that by teaching children directly, the children may take medicine at the right time for the right reason, have fewer side effects and know more about their medicine.

The purpose of this research study is to see if education about medication helps children learn more about their medicine and if this knowledge lasts.

In 2004, then Surgeon General Carmona stated that a health literate individual is more apt to know the answer, when asked how to keep themselves well (AHRQ, 2004). There is a burgeoning movement among medical professionals to address health literacy. Teaching health information to children will empower them to actively participate in their current care and provide self-management skills that will assist them to keep themselves well throughout their lives. Currently, few medication administration instructional cards exist that are appropriate for children. Providing medication information that the child might understand may result in better administration compliance, fewer adverse effects and develop an individual that is knowledgeable regarding medications and appropriate administration. The purpose if this research is to develop medication administration cards, appropriate for children, which provide information on the most commonly used drugs among the Hematology/Oncology population.

The overall objective of this research is to develop medication informational cards for medications frequently used within the Hematology/Oncology pediatric population, and evaluate the effectiveness of these cards, by means of a pre- and post–test.

Intervention(s) in this Clinical Trial

• Behavioral: Medication Education for Children

Primary Measures

• Develop medication cards appropriate for children
• Develop a post-test to determine the effectiveness
• Obtain data to support teaching children about medication

Secondary Measures

• Assess the clinical implications of this research

Inclusion Criteria:

• Between the ages of 7 – 11 years
• Currently receiving disease management primarily coordinated through the Hematology/Oncology section
• Receiving a medication identified as a variable for this study
• Are able to assent and have a parent/guardian who is willing to consent to study participation
• Suffer no apparent developmental difficulty that would prevent or make study participation difficult

Exclusion Criteria:

• Individuals who cannot read or write English
• Individuals who are known to be non-compliant with medication routine and/or adhering to follow-up visits.

Gender Eligibility for this Clinical Trial: Both

Minimum Age for this Clinical Trial: 7 Years

Maximum Age for this Clinical Trial: 11 Years

Are Healthy Volunteers Accepted for this Clinical Trial?: No

Lead Investigator: Children's Mercy Hospital Kansas City Other

Overall Clinical Trial Officials and Contacts

Heather E Curry, RN, MSN Principal Investigator Childrens Mercy Hospitals and Clinics  

Information obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov on February 12, 2012

Link to the current ClinicalTrials.gov record. http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00127543

Study ID Number: 05 06-089E

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00127543

Health Authority: United States: Institutional Review Board