This eLearning module is aimed at all paediatricians, from trainee to consultant, and any health professionals with a role in prescribing drugs for children and young people.

After completing the module, users will be able to:

• Understand the physiological changes that occur during childhood, which affect drug metabolism, including the impact of genetics and chronic diseases
• Explain what adverse drug reactions are, see some examples of when they may occur, and understand what to do if they are suspected
• Understand the principles of safe prescribing and drug administration including why errors may occur and methods to improve prescribing practice and patient safety.

Drug Metabolism

• Describe the differences between paediatric patients and adults in relation to drug delivery, metabolism and action
• Explain the impact of developmental physiology on drug disposition across age ranges of life
• Describe the development of the major metabolic pathways in relation to age from prematurity through puberty
• Describe childhood diseases and effect on drug disposition

Adverse Drug Reactions

• Explain the meaning of an adverse drug reaction
• Describe the differences between drug toxicity in the developing child, and that in adults
• Describe the common clinical presentations of ADRs and be aware that a child’s symptoms may be explained by an ADR
• List medicines more likely to cause ADRs in children and about specific age related drug toxicity
• Gain knowledge of pharmacovigilance in paediatrics and be familiar with the yellow card system for reporting ADRs

Prescribing in Paediatrics

• Describe the issues surrounding prescribing in paediatrics, including:
  • Why children are different to adults
  • Factors involved in calculating drug dosages in children
  • Selecting the correct formulation and route
  • Licensing and off-label prescribing
• Describe the principles of prescribing errors in paediatrics, including:
  • Why do prescribing errors occur? Individual versus processing errors
  • Common and serious prescribing errors
  • The benefits and risks of electronic prescribing
•  Describe the methods which can help to minimise prescribing errors