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Antibiotic resistance
is associated with increased antibiotic use. Children receive more antibiotics
than do any other age group. Parents sometimes request antibiotics for
viral illnesses and too often doctors prescribe them. Physicians report
that pressure by parents is a major reason they prescribe antibiotics
inappropriately. A survey was mailed to 2666 parents of children under
age six years. Addresses were supplied by two commercial and two Medicaid
insurance providers. Responses were received from 46%. The questionnaire
determined the number of times antibiotics were requested, how often antibiotics
were received, and attitudes and knowledge about the role of antibiotics.
Results demonstrated that parents who demand antibiotics from their children's
doctors have the lowest knowledge of antibiotics as demonstrated by the
questionnaire (55% correct responses versus 65%). Parents who give 'left-over'
antibiotics to their child also have low knowledge scores (47% versus
63% correct scores). Parents who perceive pressure from their child's
school or day care to prescribe antibiotics are almost twice as likely
to demand antibiotics from their doctors as parents who do not perceive
such pressure.
The most common misconception (78% of parents) is that antibiotics are
appropriate when there is green nasal discharge. Two-thirds of parents
do not realize that antibiotics are only helpful for bacterial infections
and three-quarters do not realize that viruses are the cause of most colds,
coughs, and flu.
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