Affiliations: [a] Wilmington University, New Castle, DE, USA | [b] Betty Cameron Women & Children’s Hospital, Wilmington, NC, USA | [c] Biostatistics and Data Management, Discovery Laboratories, Inc., Warrington, PA, USA | [d] Coastal Carolina Neonatology, Wilmington, NC, USA | [e] Center for Pediatric Lung Research, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, USA
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Thomas H. Shaffer, MSE, PhD, Professor of Pediatrics & Physiology, Director, Center for Pediatric Lung Research, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, 1600 Rockland Road, Wilmington, DE 19803, USA. Tel.: +1 302 651 6837; E-mail: thomas.shaffer@nemours.org.
Abstract: AIM:We examined the perceptions of parents with regard to animal-derived versus synthetic medications of comparable efficacy. We hypothesized that this issue is a concern in neonatal care and that the perceptions of parents from one geographical location would be similar to those of another. METHODS:A survey was distributed to parents of neonates admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit of a southeastern hospital. RESULTS:Of 153 parents surveyed, 150 (98%) responded. More mothers than fathers completed the surveys (113 vs. 34). Fifty-six percent of participants indicated a college or higher education; 40% had an income of $51,000/yr or higher. Thirty-four percent of parents had concerns about animal-derived medications, 41% preferred a synthetic medication of equivalent efficacy, and 69% would like to be informed if a medication was animal-derived. CONCLUSION:Parents have concerns about exposing neonates to animal-derived medication and wish to be informed if an animal-derived medication is being considered.
