Parental Attitudes Toward Antibiotic Use for Their Sick Child: A Comparison between Parents and Children in Day Care and Parents Whose Children Do Not Attend Day Care

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this research was to examine differences in attitudes toward antibiotic use for sick children with respect to two groups: parents with children in day care, and parents whose children do not attend day care. Methods: A correlation study was done a convenience sample of two groups of parents. A total N-37 was obtained. Sites for the sample were chosen based on type of child care used by parents. Demographic information was obtained in a questionnaire. Parental attitudes towards antibiotics for their sick children were obtained using an 11-item attitudes toward antibiotics questionnaire (Cronbach's alpha=.91). A t-test for equality of means was performed for each question to determine differences between groups. Results: Responses were statistically significant between groups with respect to one question on the attitudes toward antibiotic question are (p=.024). This question was "If my child has a cold or cough, taking an antibiotic is the best was to get rid of it". Eighty-two percent of the church group answered "somewhat disagree" or "strongly disagree", while 5.9% answered "somewhat agree" or "strongly agree". Twelve percent of this group were uncertain. In the day care group, 50% responded "strongly agree" or "somewhat agree", and 40% answered "somewhat disagree" or "strongly disagree", and 5% were uncertain. The responses to the other questions were not statistically significant. Conclusions: Based on the results of this study, it is unclear whether having a child in day care affects parent’s attitudes toward antibiotics for their sick child. Further research related to this topic is needed.