Poll Reports

83% of parents believe the last medicine prescribed for their child was FDA-approved, although less than 30% of medicines are FDA-approved for use in children. 77% of parents would like their child’s doctor to prescribe only medicines that are approved by the FDA for use in children. 

About one-half of parents with young children said consumer alerts about cough and cold  medicines for young children and lead-tainted toys affected their families. About 1 in 7 parents with young children had not heard about the cough and cold medication alerts.

25% of all adults have used discount generic prescription drug programs; more than two-thirds of these adults have private insurance or Medicare. 18% of parents have used discount generic drug programs for their children; over one-half of these children have private insurance.

Parents view diet/nutrition, and exercise/ sports, as the top 2 issues they want the doctor to discuss with their adolescents during routine check ups. Hispanic parents list drug abuse as the 2nd most important topic of discussion. Black parents list obesity as the 3rd most important topic of discussion.

Almost one-half of parents who vaccinated their young children against the flu said that this was the first time their children had received the vaccine. Flu vaccination rates among young children, high-risk adults, and seniors remain below national target levels that all people in these groups be vaccinated.

One-quarter of US children age 6-17 are either obese or overweight, based on parent report of children's height and weight. Less than 10% of parents of obese children age 6-11 are "very concerned" about their children's weight. More than 40% of parents of obese children age 6-11 perceive their children's weight status as "about the right weight".

6% of parents report that they have postponed a medical visit or medications for their children because of high gas prices in 2007. Nearly two-thirds of US parents would apply to a program that would provide "gas cards" to help get to their children's health care visits. Adults think that gas/oil companies and the government should fund a "gas card" program.

65% of parents plan to have their children up to 5 years old receive flu vaccine in 2007-08. Of parents whose children did not receive the flu vaccine in 2006-07, 32% plan to vaccinate their children up to 5 years old in 2007-08.

5 of 6 adults support government coverage for children in families with annual income up to 200% of the federal poverty level. Nearly two-thirds of adults support government coverage for children in families with annual income up to 300% of the federal poverty level.

54% of adults endorsed genetic testing even if no effective treatment is available. 38% of parents were willing to have their children's DNA stored in a government biobank. Adults were more likely to store DNA in a government biobank if they support genetic testing for diseases despite the lack of available effective treatment.