Descriptive Study on Parents’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices on Antibiotic Use and Misuse in Children with Upper Respiratory Tract Infections in Cyprus

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Andreas Rousounidis⁴  Vassiliki Papaevangelou²  Adamos Hadjipanayis¹  Sotiria Panagakou⁴  Maria Theodoridou⁵  George Syrogiannopoulos³ 

[1] Department of Pediatrics, Larnaca General Hospital, Larnaca, Cyprus; E-Mail:;Second Department of Pediatrics, P&A Kyriakou Children’s Hospital, University of Athens, Athens 10679, Greece; E-Mail:;Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, General University Hospital, Larisa 41222, Greece; E-Mail:;Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 22 Papakyriazi street, Larissa 41222, Greece; E-Mails:;First Department of Pediatrics, Aghia Sophia Children’s Hospital, University of Athens, Athens 10679, Greece; E-Mail:

关键词: antibiotics;    bacterial resistance;    KAP study;    knowledge;    attitudes;    practices;    antibiotic overuse;    antibiotic misuse;    questionnaire;    parents;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijerph8083246

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are common in children and represent a significant cause of antibiotic abuse which contributes to the development of antibiotic resistance. A survey was conducted in Cyprus in 2006 to assess parents’ and pediatricians’ Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) concerning the role of antibiotics in children with URTIs. A school-based stratified geographic clustering sampling was used and a pre-tested KAP questionnaire was distributed. A different questionnaire was distributed to paediatricians. Demographic factors associated with antibiotic misuse were identified by backward logistic regression analysis. The parental overall response rate was 69.3%. Parents (N = 1,462) follow pediatricians advice and rarely administer antibiotics acquired over the counter. Although a third expects an antibiotic prescription for URTI symptoms, most deny pressuring their doctors. Low parental education was the most important independent risk factor positively related to antibiotic misuse (OR = 2.88, 95%CI 2.02 to 4.12, p < 0.001). Pediatricians (N = 33) denied prescribing antibiotics after parental pressure but admit that parents ask for antibiotics and believe they expect antibiotic prescriptions even when not needed. In conclusion, Cypriotic parents trust their primary care providers. Although it appears that antibiotic misuse is not driven by parental pressure, the pediatricians’ view differs.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2011 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.