Citation

Walburn JN, Benson BE, Burga M. J. Toxicol. Clin. Toxicol. 1991; 29(2): 265-271.

Affiliation

University of Nebraska Medical Center, Mid-Plains Poison Control Center, Omaha.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1991, Marcel Dekker)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

2051512

Abstract

Up to 36% of childhood ingestions take place in grandparents' homes. We surveyed the 1544 registered pharmacists in the state of Nebraska by a mailed anonymous questionnaire concerning their poison prevention practices with the elderly. Of the 26% respondents, 75% always or usually gave older adults a choice of child-resistant containers but estimated that 65% chose non-child-resistant containers. Fifty-two percent reported that they asked older adults about children who could possibly ingest medications, and 59% reported that they had poison prevention material available. However, over 50% of pharmacists reported that they neither actively counseled nor handed out poison prevention material to the elderly, and only 9% reported that they specifically advise older adults about poison prevention. If all pharmacists targeted poison control education to the elderly, childhood poisoning by drugs could be reduced by one-third.

Language: en