Enhancing Caregiver Practices in Pediatric and Adolescent Antibiotic Use through Educational Posters: Cross Sectional Study

Background: Respiratory infections are prevalent among children, and antibiotics, particularly in suspension form, are commonly prescribed to manage bacterial infections. Proper use of these suspensions, including accurate reconstitution, administration, and storage, is crucial to their effectiveness. The study focuses on addressing these issues to educate caregivers and improve practices through the use of visual educational tools. To Evaluate the impact of educational posters on improving caregivers’ knowledge and practices related to the handling of pediatric and adolescent antibiotic suspensions and promote accurate and safe handling of these medications through visual aids. This is a prospective, interventional study done in September and October 2024 which was conducted in pediatric clinic where caregivers frequently visit to receive prescriptions and medications for children. The study followed a pre-test and post-test design to measure changes in knowledge and practices. In the pre-education assessment, caregivers demonstrated strong knowledge in specific areas, with 92.54% knowing the correct amount of water for reconstitution, 93.42% aware of the need to shake the bottle after reconstitution, and 80.7% understanding proper storage for diluted medicine. However, significant gaps were noted, such as only 10.96% knowing the effective duration of reconstituted antibiotics and 24.12% understanding preparatory steps like loosening the powder before reconstitution. After the educational intervention, caregivers achieved a 100% correct response rate. Hence, we conclude study highlighted a mix of strong and weak areas in caregivers’ knowledge and practices regarding antibiotic administration for children. While most participants were well-versed in core aspects, there were critical gaps, particularly around preparatory steps and the timing of reconstituted antibiotics. Educational posters proved to be an effective tool for bridging these gaps, resulting in a substantial improvement in adherence to correct practices. The findings emphasize the need for clear, visual, and easy-to-understand educational materials, tailored to caregivers’ demographics, especially targeting younger parents who are the primary caregivers. Future educational strategies should leverage visual aids and communication platforms that resonate with the target audience, ensuring proper medication use and reducing the risk of errors.