Objective: To investigate the annotation of children’s medication information in instructions of commonly used drugs for children in outpatients of a hospital

so as to provide reference for the improvement of drug instructions and rational drug use in clinic. Methods: Through the clinical pharmacy management system

drugs in prescriptions of outpatient pediatric patients (less than 16 years old) in a hospital from Apr. 2020 to Mar. 2021 were collected

and the annotation of children’s medication information in the drug instructions was investigated and analyzed. Results: There were 72 (17.87%) kinds of drugs had medication problems in children (including banned and not recommended drugs) in all drug instructions (403 categories). The annotation rates of drug dosage

drug guidance

pharmacokinetics and clinical trials in children in commonly used drug instructions (143 categories) were respectively 35.66%

57.34%

9.79% and 5.59%. Among the most commonly used pharmacological (functional) categories

the annotation rate of western drugs for digestive system

immune system

dermatology and internal medicine of Chinese patent medicine was relatively low

the annotation rate of oral preparations in dosage form category was relatively low

and the annotation rate of ethical drug and over the counter (OTC) drug category was relatively low. The most commonly used methods of dose determination for children were fixed dose and dose determination by body mass. Conclusion: There are a large number of problems related to children’s medication in outpatient pediatric patients

and the annotation rate of children’s medication information in commonly used drug instructions is lower. Therefore

it is necessary to strengthen the management in clinical use and constantly improve the drug instructions

so as to ensure the safety and rationality of children’s medication.