Self-Medication, Knowledge, Beliefs and Attitudes about Antibiotic Therapy in Acute Respiratory Pathology in the Pediatric Population: Multicentre Study

Abstract

Introduction: Antibiotics are widely used in pediatric respiratory conditions, despite most having a viral origin. Parental self-medication of children is also common. This study aimed to analyze the knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes of parents of children under 12 years old regarding antibiotic therapy and the practice of self-medication.
Methodology: This was a multicenter, observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study with surveys administered to parents during pediatric health consultations. Inclusion criteria were age ? 18 years, understanding of the Portuguese language, and no cognitive impairment. Exclusions included those who did not provide informed consent or whose child had never been prescribed antibiotics. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis performed at a significance level of 0.05.
Results: A total of 447 surveys were analyzed. Self-medication was reported by 56% of respondents, primarily due to having the medication at home (62%) and considering the illness simple or similar to a previous one (76%). Information about medications was mostly provided by doctors or pharmacists, with paracetamol and ibuprofen being the most commonly used. Compliance with antibiotic recommendations was nearly universal (~100%). Only 3% of respondents administered antibiotics without a prescription. Higher levels of education and professional status were associated with better knowledge and more appropriate attitudes toward antibiotic use (Kruskal-Wallis, p <0.05).
Conclusion: Self-medication was driven by prior knowledge and ease of access to medications, with adherence to recommendations being independent of sociodemographic factors. More educated individuals exhibited more consistent attitudes, underscoring the need for effective health education campaigns.