Attitudes of pediatricians toward Children’s consumption of ionic beverages

BMC Pediatrics

Table 1 The frequency of recommending ionic beverage, recommended brands, consultation of excessive consumption, and knowledge of health problems

	All participants N = 215	Pediatric specialists N = 182	Non-specialists N = 31
Q1. The frequency of recommending ionic beverages
Often Sometimes Infrequently Rarely Never	34 (15%) 91 (42%) 51 (24%) 28 (13%) 11 (5%)	27 (15%) 80 (44%) 44 (24%) 23 (13%) 8 (4%)	6 (19%) 10 (32%) 7 (23%) 5 (16%) 3 (10%)	NS
Q2. The brand names of ionic beverages which you recommend
Brand A Brand B Brand C Brand D Brand E Other brands Anything Not particular	130 (48%) 47 (22%) 22 (10%) 16 (7%) 10 (5%) 4 (2%) 2 (1%) 46 (21%)	108 (59%) 43 (24%) 14 (8%) 12 (7%) 7 (4%) 4 (2%) 2 (1%) 40 (22%)	20 (65%) 2 (6%) 7 (23%) 3 (10%) 3 (10%) 0 0 6 (19%)	NS P < 0.05 P < 0.05 NS NS N/A N/A N/A
Q3. Consultation of excessive consumption of ionic beverages
Yes No No answer	75 (35%) 139 (65%) 1 (0.5%)	68 (37%) 113 (62%) 1 (0.5%)	7 (23%) 24 (77%) 0	NS
Q4. Knowledge on the health problems due to excessive consumption of ionic beverages
know in detail know know a little know very little do not know No answer	16 (7%) 96 (45%) 56 (26%) 35 (16%) 9 (4%) 1 (0.5%)	14 (8%) 84 (46%) 46 (25%) 29 (16%) 8 (4%) 1 (0.5%)	2 (6%) 12 (39%) 10 (32%) 6 (19%) 1 (3%) 0	NS

NS: not significant, N/A: not assessed
Brand A: An oral rehydration solution mainly sold in hospitals and pharmacies, containing energy 100 kcal/l, sodium ion 50 mEq/l, and potassium ion 20 mEq/l; Brand B: Several types are available. Some are categorized into soft drinks for infants, and others into oral rehydration solution, containing energy 160 kcal/l, sodium ion 35 mEq/l, and potassium ion 20 mEq/l; Brand C: One of the most popular sport drinks in Japan. Several types are available,, containing energy 250 kcal/l, sodium ion 21 mEq/l, and potassium ion 5 mEq/l;. Brand D: Oral rehydration powder prescribed in clinics and hospitals. Its solution can be available commercially, containing energy 130 kcal/l, sodium ion 60 mEq/l, and potassium ion 20 mEq/l;. Brand E: One of the most popular sport drinks in Japan, containing energy 190 kcal/l, sodium ion 17 mEq/l, and potassium ion 2 mEq/l;. Several types are available

ISSN: 1471-2431