Parental Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices on Antibiotic Use for Childhood Upper Respiratory Tract Infections during COVID-19 Pandemic in Greece
This cross-sectional study aims to assess parents’ knowledge, attitude, and practices on antibiotic use for children with URTIs symptoms in Greece in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic. We distributed a questionnaire to a random sample of parents who visited primary health care centers in Patras, Gree...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-07-01
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| Series: | Antibiotics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/10/7/802 |
| _version_ | 1797527766533406720 |
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| author | Maria-Eirini Oikonomou Despoina Gkentzi Ageliki Karatza Sotirios Fouzas Aggeliki Vervenioti Gabriel Dimitriou |
| author_facet | Maria-Eirini Oikonomou Despoina Gkentzi Ageliki Karatza Sotirios Fouzas Aggeliki Vervenioti Gabriel Dimitriou |
| author_sort | Maria-Eirini Oikonomou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This cross-sectional study aims to assess parents’ knowledge, attitude, and practices on antibiotic use for children with URTIs symptoms in Greece in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic. We distributed a questionnaire to a random sample of parents who visited primary health care centers in Patras, Greece. Out of 412 participants, 86% believed that most infections with common cold or flu symptoms were caused by viruses, although 26.9% believed that antibiotics may prevent complications. Earache was the most common symptom for which antibiotics were needed. Most of them (69%) declare being considerably anxious about their children’s health during the COVID-19 pandemic. The majority (85%) knew that COVID-19 was of viral origin, yet half of them declared uncertain whether antibiotics were needed. All demographic characteristics, except for gender, were found to have a significant effect on parents’ knowledge, attitude, and practices on antibiotic use for URTIs and COVID-19. Factor analysis revealed six groups of parents with common characteristics associated with misuse of antibiotics. Our findings highlight the need to decrease misconceptions regarding antibiotic use by providing relevant education for parents targeting particular characteristics, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Continuous education of healthcare providers in the field is also of paramount importance. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:48:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f6d58bf60a2b4d93a3922f49b1f62a51 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-6382 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:48:27Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Antibiotics |
| spelling | doaj.art-f6d58bf60a2b4d93a3922f49b1f62a512023-11-22T03:03:22ZengMDPI AGAntibiotics2079-63822021-07-0110780210.3390/antibiotics10070802Parental Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices on Antibiotic Use for Childhood Upper Respiratory Tract Infections during COVID-19 Pandemic in GreeceMaria-Eirini Oikonomou0Despoina Gkentzi1Ageliki Karatza2Sotirios Fouzas3Aggeliki Vervenioti4Gabriel Dimitriou5Department of Paediatrics, Medical School, University of Patras, Rion 26504, GreeceDepartment of Paediatrics, Medical School, University of Patras, Rion 26504, GreeceDepartment of Paediatrics, Medical School, University of Patras, Rion 26504, GreeceDepartment of Paediatrics, Medical School, University of Patras, Rion 26504, GreeceDepartment of Paediatrics, Medical School, University of Patras, Rion 26504, GreeceDepartment of Paediatrics, Medical School, University of Patras, Rion 26504, GreeceThis cross-sectional study aims to assess parents’ knowledge, attitude, and practices on antibiotic use for children with URTIs symptoms in Greece in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic. We distributed a questionnaire to a random sample of parents who visited primary health care centers in Patras, Greece. Out of 412 participants, 86% believed that most infections with common cold or flu symptoms were caused by viruses, although 26.9% believed that antibiotics may prevent complications. Earache was the most common symptom for which antibiotics were needed. Most of them (69%) declare being considerably anxious about their children’s health during the COVID-19 pandemic. The majority (85%) knew that COVID-19 was of viral origin, yet half of them declared uncertain whether antibiotics were needed. All demographic characteristics, except for gender, were found to have a significant effect on parents’ knowledge, attitude, and practices on antibiotic use for URTIs and COVID-19. Factor analysis revealed six groups of parents with common characteristics associated with misuse of antibiotics. Our findings highlight the need to decrease misconceptions regarding antibiotic use by providing relevant education for parents targeting particular characteristics, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Continuous education of healthcare providers in the field is also of paramount importance.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/10/7/802upper respiratory tract infectionsantibioticsantimicrobial resistanceparental knowledgeattitudespractices |
| spellingShingle | Maria-Eirini Oikonomou Despoina Gkentzi Ageliki Karatza Sotirios Fouzas Aggeliki Vervenioti Gabriel Dimitriou Parental Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices on Antibiotic Use for Childhood Upper Respiratory Tract Infections during COVID-19 Pandemic in Greece Antibiotics upper respiratory tract infections antibiotics antimicrobial resistance parental knowledge attitudes practices |
| title | Parental Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices on Antibiotic Use for Childhood Upper Respiratory Tract Infections during COVID-19 Pandemic in Greece |
| title_full | Parental Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices on Antibiotic Use for Childhood Upper Respiratory Tract Infections during COVID-19 Pandemic in Greece |
| title_fullStr | Parental Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices on Antibiotic Use for Childhood Upper Respiratory Tract Infections during COVID-19 Pandemic in Greece |
| title_full_unstemmed | Parental Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices on Antibiotic Use for Childhood Upper Respiratory Tract Infections during COVID-19 Pandemic in Greece |
| title_short | Parental Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices on Antibiotic Use for Childhood Upper Respiratory Tract Infections during COVID-19 Pandemic in Greece |
| title_sort | parental knowledge attitude and practices on antibiotic use for childhood upper respiratory tract infections during covid 19 pandemic in greece |
| topic | upper respiratory tract infections antibiotics antimicrobial resistance parental knowledge attitudes practices |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/10/7/802 |
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