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Developing a paediatric drug formulary for the Netherlands
  1. Tjitske M van der Zanden1,
  2. Saskia N de Wildt2,3,
  3. Yves Liem4,
  4. Martin Offringa5,
  5. Matthijs de Hoog2
  6. on behalf of the Dutch Paediatric Pharmacotherapy Expertise Network NKFK (Nederlands Kenniscentrum voor Farmacotherapie bij Kinderen)
  1. 1Department of Paediatrics, Erasmus MC—Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
  2. 2Intensive Care and Paediatric Surgery, Erasmus MC Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
  3. 3Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
  4. 4Department of Pharmacy, University Medical Center Utrecht-Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, Utrecht, The Netherlands
  5. 5Child Health Evaluative Sciences (CHES), The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  1. Correspondence to Tjitske M van der Zanden, Department of Paediatrics, Erasmus MC—Sophia Children's Hospital, Wijtemaweg 80, Rotterdam 3015 CN, The Netherlands; t.vanderzanden{at}erasmusmc.nl

Abstract

As many drugs in paediatrics are used off-label, prescribers face a lack of evidence-based dosing guidelines. A Dutch framework was developed to provide dosing guidelines based on best available evidence from registration data, investigator-initiated research, professional guidelines, clinical experience and consensus. This has clarified the scientific grounds of drug use for children and encouraged uniformity in prescribing habits in the Netherlands. The developed framework and the current content of the Dutch Paediatric Formulary could be used as basis for similar initiatives worldwide, preferably in a concerted effort to ultimately provide children with effective and safe drug therapy.

  • Evidence Based Medicine
  • Pharmacology
  • Therapeutics

https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2016-311674

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    Footnotes

    • Collaborators On behalf of the Editorial board the Dutch Paediatric Pharmacotherapy Expertise Network NKFK (Nederlands Kenniscentrum voor Farmacotherapie bij Kinderen).

    • Contributors TMvdZ, has coordinated the development of the Dutch Paediatric Formulary, drafted the initial manuscript and approved the final manuscript as submitted. SNdW has been involved as director of the NKFK since 2012, reviewed and revised the manuscript and approved the final manuscript as submitted. YL is a hospital pharmacist at UMC Utrecht-Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital. The comprehensive paediatric formulary of the Wilhelmina Children's Hospital (WKZ) was adopted—with permission—as the initial reference for dosing recommendations. He has reviewed and revised the manuscript, and approved the final manuscript as submitted. MO and MdH are the founders of the Dutch Paediatric Pharmacotherapy Expertise Network NKFK and initiated the development of the Dutch Paediatric Formulary. They reviewed and revised the manuscript and approved the final manuscript as submitted.

    • Funding Dutch Ministry of Health (2005–2010, 2012–2013, 2016). Fund for Innovative actions of the branch organisation for insurance companies (Innovatiefonds Zorgverzekeraars Nederland) (2011–2012). Fund for qualitative improvement of the federation of medical specialists (Stichting Kwaliteitsgelden Medisch Specialisten (SKMS) (2011–2012). Branch organisation for insurance companies Zorgverzekeraars Nederland (ZN) (2012–2016). Dutch Paediatric Association (NVK) (2012–2016). Royal Dutch Pharmacy Association (KNMP) (2012–2016). Dutch Association of Hospital Pharmacists (NVZA) (2012–2016). The Netherlands organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMw): grant for development of the dosing calculator, grant for development of patient information on paediatric use. Dutch Kidney Foundation (Nierstichting Nederland): grant for renal project.

    • Competing interests TMvdZ is manager of the Dutch Paediatric Pharmacotherapy Expertise Network; SNdW is director of Dutch Paediatric Pharmacotherapy Expertise Network.

    • Provenance and peer review Commissioned; externally peer reviewed.