title: Changing parents' opinions regarding antibiotic use in primary care.
abstract: Parents' wish for antibiotics is a significant determinant of antibiotic prescription for their children. The objective of the study was to assess the effect of an educational intervention on parents' attitudes towards antibiotic use. Parents accompanying their children to primary pediatric clinics of Jerusalem-Hashfela District of Maccabi Healthcare Services responded to a survey regarding their wish for antibiotic treatment. Two groups of parents were surveyed: A (control) in a pre-intervention period and B (intervention) during the intervention period. The intervention included posters, pamphlets, and drawing booklets for children in the waiting rooms. A per-protocol analysis that included from group B only parents that stated they noticed the educational material (B1) was also performed. Eight hundred and sixty-eight parents were surveyed during the pre-intervention period and 688 parents during the intervention period. Children's median age was 4 years (8 days-16 years). Most (86%) of the parents were mothers. Groups were similar in socio-demographic characteristics and children's medical complaints. Factors associated with parent's low expectation for antibiotics were a general negative attitude to antibiotics (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.20-2.30), current upper respiratory tract symptoms (OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.21-0.39), advanced knowledge regarding antibiotics (OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.26-2.34), and being in group B (intervention) (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.08-2.00). The effect of the intervention was greater in the per-protocol analysis (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.20-2.55). A simple educational intervention was effective in reducing parents' expectation for antibiotics but was significantly more effective when parents reported they noticed the campaign. Improving parents' knowledge regarding antibiotics can reduce parents' wish for antibiotic treatment.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Disease Unit, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer 52621, Israel. Yasmin.maor@Sheba.health.gov.il
authors.forename: Yasmin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maor
authors.forename: Meir
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raz
authors.forename: Ethan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rubinstein
authors.forename: Estella
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Derazne
authors.forename: Sigal
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ringel
authors.forename: Hector
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Roizin
authors.forename: Galia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rahav
authors.forename: Gili
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Regev-Yochay
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D057194:Intention to Treat Analysis; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D011320:Primary Health Care; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents