Impact of a waiting room videotape message on parent attitudes toward pediatric antibiotic use. Pediatrics 2001 Sep;108(3):591-6
Date
09/05/2001Pubmed ID
11533323DOI
10.1542/peds.108.3.591Scopus ID
2-s2.0-0034868938 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 56 CitationsAbstract
OBJECTIVE: To reduce the injudicious use of antibiotics, we developed an educational strategy that focused on parents of pediatric patients and their physicians.
METHODS: This intervention was conducted in 5 pediatric practices in Arkansas during a 9-month period. Baseline data on parent attitudes about antibiotics and physician practice habits were measured by questionnaire. During the following 36 weeks, an educational videotape about the judicious use of antibiotics was played in waiting rooms. The videotape on antibiotics used a standard script based on the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics. The physicians and staff at each site were actors in the videotape. During week 2 and week 36 of videotape use, parent attitudes were measured again. After the baseline week, the physicians and staff in each site were provided a standard in-service review of the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations for judicious use of antibiotics. A study nurse recruited patients, administered questionnaires, and reviewed charts on-site.
RESULTS: Parents who were exposed to the videotape were significantly less inclined to seek antibiotics for viral infections. Passively provided pamphlets were not read. No significant change in antibiotic prescribing by physicians was seen.
CONCLUSION: Parent-focused passive education tools are effective at changing parent attitudes toward the use of antibiotics. Although physicians have blamed parent attitudes and demands for the overuse of antibiotics, changes in parent attitudes in this study were not associated with changes in prescribing rates. Changes in parent attitudes may be necessary but do not seem sufficient for changes in antimicrobial prescribing patterns.
Author List
Wheeler JG, Fair M, Simpson PM, Rowlands LA, Aitken ME, Jacobs RFAuthor
Pippa M. Simpson PhD Adjunct Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdolescentAdult
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Arkansas
Child
Child, Preschool
Cohort Studies
Common Cold
Drug Prescriptions
Drug Utilization
Female
Health Education
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Humans
Infant
Male
Parents
Pediatrics
Practice Patterns, Physicians'
Prospective Studies
Surveys and Questionnaires
Videotape Recording