title: Prescription of antibiotics and awareness of antibiotic costs by paediatricians in two hospitals in Greece.
abstract: Our aim was to study the antibiotic prescription practices and the knowledge about antibiotic costs, brand and generic drugs of paediatricians working in two hospitals in Greece. The 2007 national guidelines were used as the gold standard for antibiotic prescription. A total of 126 paediatricians participated in the study (50.4% response rate). The mean compliance rate with the guidelines was 50.1% (range per infection: 10.6-84.7%). The mean scores of knowledge about antibiotic costs and about brand name and generic drugs were 35.6 and 60.3%, respectively. Linear regression analysis found a significant association between the mean compliance rate with the national guidelines and the paediatricians' age (mean compliance rates were 49.1, 53.0, and 43.0% in the ≤ 30, 31-40, and > 40 years age-groups, respectively; P  =  0.003). In conclusion, five years after the first national guidelines were issued in Greece only half of the paediatricians working in hospitals comply fully with them.
authors.forename: Helena C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Maltezou
authors.forename: Katerina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mougkou
authors.forename: Elias
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Iosifidis
authors.forename: Panos
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Katerelos
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Roilides
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Theodoridou
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics*; D017046:Cost Savings / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D016527:Drug Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016568:Drugs, Generic / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D016568:Drugs, Generic
keywords: Antibiotics,; Cost; Hospital,; Paediatrician,; Prescription,