What instructions should a nurse include when teaching a mother of a 3-year-old about promoting medicine adherence?

Selecting the appropriate dosage form is crucial in promoting medicine adherence, especially for a young child like a 3-year-old. This age group may have difficulty swallowing pills or may be averse to certain forms of medication. By choosing a dosage form that aligns with the child's developmental stage and preferences—such as a liquid formulation, chewable tablets, or even dissolvable formats—the nurse can help ensure that the child can effectively take the medication as prescribed.

This consideration underscores the importance of making medication administration as straightforward and less daunting as possible. For instance, if a liquid formulation is chosen over tablets, the child may be more willing to take the medicine, thereby increasing adherence.

Other methods, such as using calibrated spoons for measuring, while important, are more about accurate dosage but do not directly impact a child’s willingness or ability to take the medication. Similarly, while improving palatability by mixing with food or juice may make the medication more appealing, it can also lead to concerns regarding the accuracy of dosing or potential unintended interactions with the food. Compensating for spilled or spit-out medicine by overdosing can potentially lead to unsafe situations. Therefore, focusing on the proper dosage form aligns closely with the needs of a child, improving adherence to medication