OBJECTIVE: To investigate the problems in the clinical application of Chinese patent medicine in outpatient of children’s hospital

so as to provide evidence for clinical rational drug use and ensure the safety of drug use for children. METHODS: Totally 3 000 prescriptions of Chinese patent medicine in outpatient of Children’s Hospital Affiliated of Zhengzhou University/Henan Children’s Hospital/Zhengzhou Children’s Hospital（hereinafter referred to as "our hospital"） were extracted from Jan. to Jun. 2019 by hospital information system. The clinical application of Chinese patent medicine was statistically analyzed. The rationality of the clinical application of Chinese patent medicine was evaluated in combination with drug instructions

relevant clinical guidelines and expert consensus.RESULTS: Of the 3 000 outpatient prescriptions

the age of children was mainly less than 6 years old（2 431 pieces

81. 03%）. The main varieties of Chinese patent medicine were drugs for clearing heat and detoxifying

relieving cough and resolving phlegm

and 1. 33 kinds of Chinese patent medicine were used per capita. In terms of the number of Chinese patent medicine issued in the single prescription

1 kind of Chinese patent medicine was the main prescription（1 871 pieces

62. 37%）

while the prescription of 2 kinds of Chinese patent medicine accounted for 33. 07%（992 pieces）. The top three departments ranked by number of prescriptions were emergency department

general internal medicine department and otolaryngology department

while the traditional Chinese medicine department ranked the fourth（245 pieces

8. 17%）. There were 186 pieces of irrational prescriptions

with the irrational rate of 6. 20%

mainly for improper usage and dosage

repeated use of drugs and inappropriate indications. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical application of Chinese patent medicine in the outpatient department of our hospital was irrational. Clinicians should strengthen the study of theoretical knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine and follow the principle of syndrome differentiation and treatment. Meanwhile

the administrative department should strengthen the management of prescriptions for standardized Chinese patent medicine to ensure the safety of medication for children.