Padiatric Antibiotic Use

Padiatric Antibiotic Use 

Introduction: Antibiotic resistance and injudicious use of antimicrobials are well-known problems that are without widely accepted solutions. An educational strategy that focused on the parents of pediatric patients and their physicians regarding the injudicious use of antibiotics was evaluated.

Methods: An 8-minute videotape featuring local physicians, nurses, and families was assessed in 5 pediatric practices over a 9-month period. Baseline data on parent attitudes concerning antibiotics and physician practice habits were measured via questionnaire. During the next 36 weeks, an educational videotape concerning the judicious use of antibiotics was played in waiting rooms. The videotape used a standard script that was based on the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics. The physicians and staff at each site were actors in the videotaped message. At weeks 2 and 36 of videotape use, parent attitudes were remeasured.

Results: Of 771 parents questioned, 2%, 57%, AND 53% at weeks 1, 2, and 36, respectively, reported watching some of the videotape. Seven, 20, and 1 of the parents, respectively, questioned during weeks 1, 2, and 36 reported reading the pamphlet on judicious antibiotic use. Over time, parents and staff became increasingly noncompliant when the videotape was shown continuously and would either replace or turn off the videotape. Parents exposed to the videotape and those who read the pamphlet were significantly less inclined to seek antibiotics for viral infections. No significant change was observed in antibiotics prescribed by the physicians.

Conclusion: Parent-focused passive education tools are effective in changing parental attitudes concerning the use of antibiotics. Although physicians have blamed parent attitudes and demands for their overuse of antibiotics, changes in parent attitudes were not correlated with changes in prescribing rates.