Objective: To investigate the current status of pediatric asthma drug allocation and medication

and to explore the application rationality of drugs in pediatrics from National Essential Medicine List (NEML) and National Drug Reimbursement List (NDRL). Methods: A questionnaire survey was performed on 245 clinical pharmacists from 46 medical institutions in China from Aug. to Sept. 2020

basic information

asthma medication

asthma drug evaluation

asthma-related pharmaceutical care and other data were collected. Descriptive methods were used for statistical analysis. Results: A total of 67 kinds of anti-inflammatory and anti-asthmatitic drugs were prepared in 46 medical institutions. The most commonly prepared and used drugs were inhaled budesonide suspension

epinephrine hydrochloride injection

prednisone acetate tablets

montelukast chewable tablets and methylprednisolone sodium succinate injection. Among them

10 commonly used drugs had off-label use

improper dosage forms and other clinical medication problems. In terms of drug evaluation

more than 5% of pediatric pharmacists recommended that aminophylline (tablets) and theophylline (sustained-release tablets) should be removed from NEML based on the particularity of pediatric medication. More than 5% of pediatric pharmacists recommended that bambuterol (oral regular release)

beclomethasone (inhalant) and aminophylline (oral regular release) should be changed from class A to class B or removed from NDRL. Meanwhile

more than 30% of pediatric pharmacists suggested that the following 7 kinds of drugs should be adjusted to class A

such as montelukast (chewable tablets)

montelukast (granules)

salmeterol and ticasone (inhalant)

budesonide (inhalant)

budesonide formoterol (inhalant)

montelukast (oral regular release) and procataterol (oral liquid). In terms of pharmaceutical care

more than 95% of the medical institutions where the respondents worked had provided guidance on asthma medication

yet only 54.01% of the asthma medication instructor were pharmacists. Conclusion: This study evaluates the application rationality of drugs in pediatrics from NEML and NDRL from the perspective of front-line pharmacists

and provides reference for the establishment of essential medicine list for children in China. Meanwhile

pediatric pharmacists should also strengthen prescription pre-review

reduce off-label drug use

and vigorously develop pharmaceutical care

so as to improve the awareness of asthma medication knowledge and reduce the incidence of asthma in children.