[Palatability of oral rehydration solutions (ORS) in healthy 6 to 9 year-old children. A multicentre, randomised single blind clinical trial]

Abstract

Introduction: Patient adherence to therapeutic regimens is extremely important to successful treatment. Among paediatric patients medication palatability of oral solutions is essential for patient acceptance, therapeutic compliance and successful outcome. The objective was to assess the palatability of different oral rehydration solutions (ORS), which flavour the children preferred and the relationship between the tastes of the child and the flavour chosen. They had been asked previously about their likings.

Material and methods: Randomised, multicentre, single blind clinical trial. A total of 116 children tasted four solutions, two at a time, and scored each flavour as really good, good, bad or really bad, and in each of the two tastings chose their preferred choice.

Results: The flavours that children preferred were cola (rated as good or really good by 87.9%) and strawberry (62.1%). In 97 of tastings, the flavour of choice was cola and in 62 strawberry, fruit in 26 and in 39 the neutral taste. There was an association between children who liked cola drinks and preferred the ORS cola flavoured (aOR: 10.3; 95%CI: 3.1-34.6). No relationship was found between children who preferred the strawberry flavoured ORS and their likings. Of the 7 children who did not like either cola drinks or strawberry sweets, 5 preferred the neutral solution.

Conclusions: There are large variations in the acceptance of different flavours of ORS. Asking for children's tastes can lead towards the acceptance of the solutions.