Below are releases on studies appearing in the September issue of Pediatrics, the peer-reviewed, scientific journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

For Release: Monday, August 24, 2009, 12:01 am (ET)

CAR SEATS LOWER OXYGEN LEVELS OF NEWBORNS

Car safety seats are one of the most effective ways to protect children from injury and death in the first years of life. For the best protection in a crash, car seats require infants to be placed in an upright position. However, this posture can partially compress the chest wall and reduce airway size, resulting in lower levels of oxygen. The study, “A Comparison of Respiratory Patterns in Healthy Term Infants Placed in Car Safety Seats and Beds,” compared oxygen levels in 200 newborns while in a hospital crib, car bed and car seat. The mean oxygen saturation level was significantly lower in the car seat (95.7 percent) and the car bed (96.3 percent) compared to the crib (97.9 percent). Previous studies have found similar effects on premature infants; this study confirms the respiration of full-term infants is also affected by car seats and car beds. The study authors suggest these safety devices should be used only for protection during travel, and not as replacement for cribs.

MORE KIDS USING ADHD DRUGS TO GET HIGH

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects between 8 percent and 12 percent of children and 4 percent of adults worldwide. There has been a significant increase in the use of prescription stimulants to treat ADHD. The most frequently prescribed ADHD medications include mixed amphetamine salts and methylphenidate. The study, “Adolescent Prescription ADHD Medication Abuse is Rising Along With Prescriptions for These Medications,” analyzed the American Association of Poison Control Center’s National Poison Data System for the years 1998 to 2005 for all cases involving 13- to 19-year-olds who intentionally abused or intentionally misused ADHD prescription medication. Calls related to ADHD medication abuse rose 76 percent, to 581 from 317 each year. Estimated prescription rates for teens and preteens increased 133 percent for amphetamine products, 52 percent for methylphenidate products, and 80 percent for both together. Although the majority of adolescents use their ADHD medication appropriately, pediatricians need to know that the increase in prescriptions of ADHD medication increases the potential for abuse. Since the rise in abuse remained proportional to the availability, study authors suggest that more teens are misusing stimulant ADHD medication because more have access to the medicine.

PEDIATRICIANS AND PARENTS REFLECT ON WELL-CHILD CARE

Pediatricians often think about ways to improve well-child care visits and how to more effectively support the needs of children and their families. A largely missing, but key perspective, is that of parents. Two studies, “Reflections on Well-Child Care Practice: A National Study of Pediatric Clinicians” (published online Aug. 10) and “What Do Families Want From Well-Child Care? Including Parents in The Rethinking Discussion” (to be published online Aug. 24) examine the desires of both pediatricians and parents and find many similarities. In focus groups, pediatricians said they support preventive care that is family-centered, comprehensive and developmentally relevant. These ideas were echoed in focus groups with parents, who said they valued well-child care beyond immunizations and school physicals, and view visits as opportunities to address individual concerns and gain reassurance about their parenting. Both pediatricians and parents suggested making better use of limited time by using technology and community resources both before and after well-child care visits in order to balance individual family priorities with the education and guidance pediatricians need to cover during a typical visit.

Editor’s Note: A commentary “Reflecting On ‘Reflections on Well-Child Care Practice’” also will be published online on August 24.

###

The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.