PRACTICE OF OFF-LABEL PRESCRIBING IN CHILDREN: A PILOT SURVEY IN LITHUANIA

Off-label prescribing is common in pediatrics due to li­mited availability of approved medications for children. This pilot study aimed to assess Lithuanian physicians’ practices, information sources, and communication met­hods regarding off-label prescribing for pediatric patients. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was con­ducted in March 2022 among Lithuanian family doc­tors and pediatricians. The survey included questions on experience with off-label prescribing, commu­nication practices, and information sources used. Results: Of the 79 respondents, 76% had prescribed off-label treatments to children within the past four weeks. Most respondents believed off-label treatments to be equ­ally effective as on-label treatments but associated with slightly higher safety risks and adverse events. The most commonly used information sources were SmPCs, natio­nal guidelines, and the State Medicines Control Agency website. 73% of respondents reported always informing parents/guardians about off-label prescribing, and 70% sought consent and involved parents in decision-making. Conclusions: Off-label prescribing is prevalent in pedi­atric practice in Lithuania, most physicians inform pa­tients and their parents or guardians about the treatments being off-label.