Parental Antibiotic Perceptions, Disposal Practices and Rational Drug Use Awareness in Türkiye

Background

Inappropriate antibiotic use in children is a major driver of antimicrobial resistance. Parents play a central role in pediatric antibiotic consumption, yet evidence on their perceptions, disposal practices, and rational drug use awareness is limited. We aimed to assess these outcomes and identify associated factors.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 371 parents attending a pediatric outpatient clinic in Türkiye. The questionnaire included sociodemographic characteristics, antibiotic use behaviors, the Parental Perceptions on Antibiotics (PAPA) Scale, and the Rational Drug Use Awareness (RDUA) Scale. Chi-square, t-test, Mann-Whitney U, ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis, correlation tests and multiple linear regression were used.

Results

Of the parents, 11.3% reported giving antibiotics to their children without medical consultation and 24.8% requested antibiotics from physicians. Knowledge gaps were substantial: 57.7% believed antibiotics treat viral infections; 47.7% thought they treat all infection types. Only 11.6% practiced proper antibiotic disposal, and 56.1% were aware of resistance. PAPA and RDUA scores were positively correlated (r = 0.389, p < 0.001). In regression, PAPA was positively associated with higher education (β = 3.53, p = 0.007), proper disposal (β = 5.01, p = 0.013) and side-effect knowledge (β = 2.87, p = 0.032), and negatively with giving antibiotics without consultation (β = −5.27, p = 0.010) and antibiotic demand (β = −4.20, p = 0.005). RDUA was positively associated with the presence of chronic illness in the child (β = 4.04, p < 0.001), whereas it was negatively associated with using the internet as an information source (β = −3.33, p = 0.029).

Conclusions

Parental misconceptions about antibiotics remain widespread and are closely linked to rational drug use awareness. Education, information sources and disposal behaviors are potentially modifiable factors. Parent-focused interventions on viral-bacterial distinction and proper disposal are needed.

Key messages

• Over half of parents wrongly believed antibiotics treat viral infections, a key target for health education.

• Parental perceptions correlated with rational drug use awareness, supporting integrated approaches.