Abstract
Objectives: This study aimed to investigate parental attitude towards psychotropic drugs’ use for children’s mental disorders. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2020 to March 2021 at the Department of Behavioural Medicine, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman. A questionnaire was used to determine parents’ opinions and attitudes about use of psychotropic medications on their children and, in a small proportion, other caregivers if the child attended with them. Risk factors associated with parents who preferred to consult a folk healer (FH) for children with mental disorders were identified by the logistic regression model. Results: A total of 299 parents participating in the study (response rate: 95.2%). Most (n = 244, 81.6%) agreed to give their child psychotropic medications if necessary, but 25.4% (n = 76) would consult an FH before a psychiatrist. Married parents were 14.5 times (P = 0.011) more likely than separated or divorced parents to consult an FH. Caregivers with a monthly income below 500 OMR and between 500 and 1,000 OMR were 2.5 (P = 0.016) and 3.2 times (P <0.001), respectively, more likely than those with more than 1,000 OMR to consult an FH. Parents who disagreed with giving their children psychotropic medications were 3.8 times (P <0.001) more likely to consult an FH than parents who agreed to give them if necessary. Conclusion: Most parents agreed to give their children psychotropic medications if necessary. However, a proportion of parents and caregivers preferred to consult an FH before accessing mental health services.
Publication details
- DOI
- 10.18295/squmj.8.2022.049
- Journal
- Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, 23(2), 190-197
- Publisher
- Sultan Qaboos University
- Open access
- Gold open access
- License
- CC BY-ND 4.0
Cite this article
APA 7
Al-Harthi, H., Al-Huseini, S., Al-Shukaili, M., Chan, M. F., Al-Mahrouqi, T., Al-Breiki, M., Al Hosni, A., & Mirza, H. (2025). Parental Attitude Towards the Prescription of Psychotropic Medications for Mental Disorders in Children in a Tertiary Care University Hospital in Oman. Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, 23(2), 190-197. https://doi.org/10.18295/squmj.8.2022.049
MLA 9
Al-Harthi, Hiba, et al. "Parental Attitude Towards the Prescription of Psychotropic Medications for Mental Disorders in Children in a Tertiary Care University Hospital in Oman." Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, vol. 23, no. 2, 2025, pp. 190-197. https://doi.org/10.18295/squmj.8.2022.049.
Chicago (author–date)
Al-Harthi, Hiba, Salim Al-Huseini, Mohammed Al-Shukaili, Moon Fai Chan, Tamadhir Al-Mahrouqi, Mohammed Al-Breiki, Amira Al Hosni, and Hassan Mirza. 2025. "Parental Attitude Towards the Prescription of Psychotropic Medications for Mental Disorders in Children in a Tertiary Care University Hospital in Oman." Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal 23 (2): 190-197. https://doi.org/10.18295/squmj.8.2022.049.
Harvard
Al-Harthi, H., Al-Huseini, S., Al-Shukaili, M., Chan, M. F., Al-Mahrouqi, T., Al-Breiki, M., Al Hosni, A. and Mirza, H. (2025) 'Parental Attitude Towards the Prescription of Psychotropic Medications for Mental Disorders in Children in a Tertiary Care University Hospital in Oman', Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, 23(2), pp. 190-197. doi:10.18295/squmj.8.2022.049.
Vancouver
Al-Harthi H, Al-Huseini S, Al-Shukaili M, Chan MF, Al-Mahrouqi T, Al-Breiki M, et al. Parental Attitude Towards the Prescription of Psychotropic Medications for Mental Disorders in Children in a Tertiary Care University Hospital in Oman. Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal. 2025;23(2):190-197. doi:10.18295/squmj.8.2022.049
IEEE
H. Al-Harthi, S. Al-Huseini, M. Al-Shukaili, M. F. Chan, T. Al-Mahrouqi, M. Al-Breiki, A. Al Hosni, and H. Mirza, "Parental Attitude Towards the Prescription of Psychotropic Medications for Mental Disorders in Children in a Tertiary Care University Hospital in Oman," Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, vol. 23, no. 2, pp. 190-197, 2025, doi: 10.18295/squmj.8.2022.049.