Parental knowledge, attitude, and practice on self-medication of antibiotics for children in bandung, indonesia: a...

Parents' role as primary decision-makers in medication administration is essential to ensuring proper antibiotic use. Despite its significance, only a few studies have delved into parental perspectives. Therefore, this study used a questionnaire-based survey and a module-based learning intervention to assess Indonesian parental knowledge, attitude, and practice related to antibiotic use in pediatric care.

A total of 257 parents of children aged 0-11 attending postnatal healthcare centers in Arcamanik District, Bandung, Indonesia, participated in this study using a validated questionnaire. Additionally, we developed and implemented an education module using an on-site learning approach to assist a total of 57 parents who previously participated in the questionnaire-based study and agreed to participate in managing their children's use of antibiotics. We also conducted pre- and post-tests to evaluate the improvement in knowledge.

The results showed that based on the questionnaire-based survey, about half of parents believed antibiotics were necessary for children's illness (50%), and 64.5% considered their use essential when other treatments failed. Based on their previous symptoms, approximately 17.7% of parents misused antibiotics as stand-alone treatments. A significant 94.5% expressed the need for comprehensive information from healthcare providers regarding prudent use. The significant mean difference (45.79 ± 12.33; P = 0.00) between pre- and post-test analyses showed improvement in parental knowledge following the intervention.

This study underscored a concerning lack of understanding among parents, leading to self-medication practices in Indonesia. Using the developed module, the educational intervention effectively increased parental awareness. This suggested the potential for tailored interventions to rectify misconceptions and promote responsible antibiotic use in pediatric care.