Improving parent knowledge about antibiotics: A video intervention

Objective. To determine whether an educational video could improve parent k nowledge, beliefs, and behaviors about the appropriate use of oral antibiot ics. Study Design. A randomized, controlled trial was conducted in an urban prim ary care clinic and a suburban pediatric practice. Parents were randomly as signed to the intervention or control groups. Parents in the intervention g roup were asked to view a 20-minute video, specifically developed for this project, over a 2-month period, and given a brochure about antibiotics. Par ent knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors were assessed at the time of enrollme nt and then by telephone 2 months later. Results. A total of 193 (94%) of 206 parents completed the study. The group s were equivalent with respect to all important baseline characteristics. N o differences were found for adjusted posttest means between the interventi on and control groups for knowledge, beliefs, or behavior. For example, the intervention group scored 8.04 on the knowledge questionnaire (11 true-fal se questions), compared with 7.82 for the control group. Subgroup analysis, based on site of enrollment, indicated that families in the intervention g roup from the primary care urban clinic improved their knowledge score (6.0 3 to 6.92) and were more likely to report that there were problems with chi ldren receiving too many antibiotics (intervention 67% vs control 34%). Conclusion. Overall, this video had only a modest effect on parent knowledg e, beliefs, and self-reported behaviors regarding oral antibiotics. We beli eve that any campaign promoting the judicious use of oral antibiotics must use a multifaceted approach and target both parents and physicians.