This article is part of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
Marieke Meijs, one of the pharmacist of the center, explains that a tailor-made solution is sought for each child: 'We all want the child to be able to take the medicine, so that the treatment can be as effective as possible. Sometimes medicines are colored to make it look more attractive. Or flavoring or sugars are added to a drink. Medicines should of course not be associated with sweets, but children swallow medicines easier if they see a nice color and the medicine tastes pleasant.'
Recognizable taste
Manufacturers are also doing their best to improve the taste. Marieke: 'It is very important that the right dose is taken. For example mercaptopurine, a chemo-drink that is often prescribed, has a bad taste. We have asked the manufacturer to improve the taste and they are investigating the possibilities. I advise parents to give their children some lemonade after the administration of the drug to give them a recognizable taste. In addition, distraction works very well with children, of course!'
Rituals
‘We hear from parents that some children of 2 or 3 years old can still swallow pills,' Marieke continues. ‘Parents sometimes make a ritual of it, or do it 'unnoticed' by waking up the child in the evening and letting it swallow while sleeping. From the pharmacy we also give tips on how a child can swallow a tablet more easily. For example, you can first put a smartie on the tongue and then let it swallow with water without putting the head back. Then you immediately give the pill after it. Or a pill on a spoon of custard and then a glass of water.'
Explanation
The pharmacists and specialized pharmacy assistants advise on medication and this is always aimed at maximum comfort for the child, while maintaining the correct effect of the medication. Marieke Meijs: 'Different ages require different guidance when taking the medication. Children like to be involved in discussions with care professionals, we notice that all the time in the Máxima Center. Even four-year-old children want that. Explanations about medication are therefore as much as possible in consultation with child and parents.' Special medicin cards have been developed at the Máxima Center with all the instructions and tips for taking medication.
Instruction videos
Marieke Meijs: 'The explanation or instruction is tuned to the level of the parents and child and their needs. We use teach back to check whether our explanation was clear and whether parents and children understood it. For example, we often ask the question, ‘How did you give the medicine to your child yesterday?’ Or: ‘how exactly did you prepare that syringe?'’
The explanation of the pharmacist or assistant also includes the way of preparing for intake. ‘This is often more difficult than we expect,’ Marieke explains ‘That's why we have made instruction videos in Dutch. For example, how to prepare a syringe with a medicine solution and how to dissolve a tablet in water in a syringe. In addition, we try to make the text label on the medicine with instructions as clear as possible and avoid confusion. And we have also translated the labels into English and Ukrainian. The next step is an Arabic translation. As a hospital pharmacy, we stand for the highest possible quality of life for all children, just like the entire Máxima Center.'