Maternal emotions increase the desire for antibiotic use and pressure on health professionals to prescribe antibiotics to their infants

Commentary on: Bosley H, Henshall C, Appleton JV, Jackson D. Understanding antibiotic-seeking behaviour: A qualitative case study of mothers of children aged 5 and under. J Adv Nurs. 2022 Nov;78(11):3772–3781. doi: 10.1111/jan.15356. Epub 2022 Jul 21. Implications for practice and research Prescribing nurses and doctors must be aware of the symbolic power of antibiotics as wonder drugs, impacting their seeking behaviour. They also must provide reassuring medications alternatives to antibiotics. Context Antibiotic use selects for antibiotic resistance, which is causing a burden worldwide. In 2019, nearly 5 million people died due to causes associated with antibiotic resistance.1 Therefore, measures to avoid antibiotic overprescription are urgent. There is a growing body of evidence linking antibiotic prescription to psychological characteristics of health workers, patients and, in the case of paediatrics appointments, mothers or other infants’ caregivers.2 3 Along the same line,...
Source: Evidence-Based Nursing - Category: Nursing Authors: Tags: Child health Commentary Source Type: research