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Associate Clinical Professor of Pharmacy Practice, Auburn University Harrison School of Pharmacy, Huntsville, Alabama
Published Online, June 5, 2007. www.theannals.com, DOI 10.1345/aph.1K108
Audience: Although this book was written specifically for pharmaceutical scientists, other health professional students (pharmacy, medical, nursing) may benefit from this basic review of medication issues in the pediatric population. The pediatric formulation chapter would be informative for new compounding pharmacists as well.
Purpose: The authors state that this introductory textbook "provides a background in pediatric pharmacy" and serves as a "comprehensive introduction to children's medication" for pharmaceutical scientists. This text would also be an excellent supplemental resource for a basic pharmaceutical course for healthcare students or a pediatric pharmacotherapy elective in a health professional school.
Content: This book is divided into 6 main chapters. The first is a pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics chapter. A well written section on practical implications summarizes each specific subsection, such as oral absorption or renal elimination differences. The second chapter details pharmacogenomics and discusses its history and implications in children. The third chapter reviews actual medication errors in children as well as medication error models and provides cases that assist in applying the models. Pediatric formulations, the fourth chapter, nicely discusses off-label use of medications, extemporaneous formulations, excipients, and medication administration route issues in children. Chapter 5 provides a timeline of regulatory changes regarding pediatric medication in the US, Europe, and the United Kingdom. The final chapter discusses pediatric clinical trials as well as ethical and recruitment issues. This textbook flows well when it is read and presents useful information.
Usability: The chapters have numerous references that are mostly from the primary literature. A detailed index allows the reader to quickly search for a specific section or issue. The textbook is affordable for students and faculty and excellent for use as a quick refresher for pediatric medication issues. Students and practitioners from Europe, the UK, and US will find useful information reading the book, especially if interested in regulatory issues.
Highlights: The authors have done a good job of reviewing and summarizing medication issues in the pediatric population. This information is easy to read and understand. Practical points are emphasized in one chapter. This textbook provides historical information as well so that the reader understands past governmental actions regarding pediatric medication. Details of pediatric formulations are very useful for compounding practitioners. An excellent description of medication errors is presented as well.
Limitations: Commonly used references for pediatric dosing could have been described in the text when dosing calculations for children were discussed. Also, practical point sections would have been useful in the discussions of routes of administration. The inclusion of numerous tables causes the reader to turn the book from side to side. As this book provides the basics, seasoned practitioners and scientists will not be challenged by the reading.
Comparison with Other Related Books: This is a unique book, as most pharmaceutical textbooks cover broader population issues. The majority of textbooks that deal solely with pediatric drug issues are more clinical based.
Reviewer's Summary: This textbook meets the authors' goals and provides a fundamental review of medication issues in the pediatric population. It is a good reference and introduction to pediatric drug handling for pharmaceutical science and professional students.
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