Reducing antibiotics for colds and flu: a student-taught program

• Published in: Health education research Vol. 23; no. 1; pp. 146 - 157
• Main Authors: Cebotarenco, Natalia, Bush, Patricia J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Oxford University Press 01.02.2008; Oxford Publishing Limited (England)
• Subjects: Adolescent; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Antibiotics; Beliefs; Child; Common Cold - therapy; Community Relations; Drug Utilization; Drugs; Economic Status; Educational Change; Epistemology; Family Income; Female; Government School Relationship; Health Behavior; Health Education; Health Education - methods; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health Promotion; Health technology assessment; Humans; Influenza; Influenza, Human - therapy; Male; Moldova; Mother Attitudes; Mothers; Narcotics; ORIGINAL ARTICLES; Parents; Peer Group; Peer instruction; Peer Teaching; Physicians; School Districts; Students; Teaching; United States > US
• ISSN: 0268-1153; 1465-3648
• DOI: 10.1093/her/cym008

A student peer-taught program, to decrease antibiotic use for colds and flu, was developed and implemented in one school district (21 schools) in Chisinau, Moldova, in 2003–04. A second district (20 schools) served as the control (C). Students (12–13 years) and adults most responsible for the family's health care completed surveys in March pre–post intervention. The surveys determined the reported incidence of colds and flu during the past winter, treatment, beliefs about cause and usefulness of antibiotics. The intervention included peer-education sessions, parents' meetings, booklet, vignette video, newsletters, poster and poster contest. The intervention also provided basic information on appropriate use of medicines. Pre–post intervention survey results indicated that the intervention was successful. Adjusted for Cs, students who reported they did not treat colds or flu with antibiotics increased 33.7%; the comparable increase for adults was 38.0%. Adjusted for Cs, intervention students who did not know if they had used an antibiotic decreased 15.1% and for intervention adults the comparable decrease was 5.0%. All relative responses related to beliefs about the cause of colds and flu and the usefulness of antibiotics to treat them changed in a positive direction. In all groups, beliefs and behaviors relative to antibiotic use were related.