Impact of a waiting room videotape message on parent attitudes toward pediatric antibiotic use

Objective. To reduce the injudicious use of antibiotics, we developed an ed ucational strategy that focused on parents of pediatric patients and their physicians. Methods. This intervention was conducted in 5 pediatric practices in Arkans as during a 9-month period. Baseline data on parent attitudes about antibio tics and physician practice habits were measured by questionnaire. During t he following 36 weeks, an educational videotape about the judicious use of antibiotics was played in waiting rooms. The videotape on antibiotics used a standard script based on the recommendations of the American Academy of P ediatrics. The physicians and staff at each site were actors in the videota pe. During week 2 and week 36 of videotape use, parent attitudes were measu red again. After the baseline week, the physicians and staff in each site w ere provided a standard in-service review of the American Academy of Pediat rics recommendations for judicious use of antibiotics. A study nurse recrui ted patients, administered questionnaires, and reviewed charts onsite. Results. Parents who were exposed to the videotape were significantly less inclined to seek antibiotics for viral infections. Passively provided pamph lets were not read. No significant change in antibiotic prescribing by phys icians was seen. Conclusion. Parent-focused passive education tools are effective at changin g parent attitudes toward the use of antibiotics. Although physicians have blamed parent attitudes and demands for the overuse of antibiotics, changes in parent attitudes in this study were not associated with changes in pres cribing rates. Changes in parent attitudes may be necessary but do not seem sufficient for changes in antimicrobial prescribing patterns.