TY - JOUR T1 - Promoting sugar-free medicines: parents' views. JF - British Journal of General Practice JO - Br J Gen Pract SP - 823 LP - 824 VL - 47 IS - 425 AU - G Hastings AU - K Hughes AU - R Lowry Y1 - 1997/12/01 UR - http://bjgp.org/content/47/425/823.abstract N2 - BACKGROUND: A long-standing concern among dental health professionals has been about the harmful effects of sugered medicines on teeth, especially in children who regularly take such medications. AIM: To investigate parental attitudes, perceptions, and motivations to sugar-free medicines so that an effective promotional campaign could be mounted. METHOD: A qualitative, focus group approach was used to gather data. RESULTS: These show the dominant influence of the doctor over the patient/parent, and the bearing this has on the prescribing of sugar-free medicines. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the scope for sugar-free medicine promotion for prescribed and over-the-counter products, and the polarizing of attitudes to the use of sugar-free medicines based on social class. ER -