The Article in Brief

Background The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other organizations have recommended that doctors in the United States reduce inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics. This article reports on the effectiveness of an educational program for doctors about antibiotic prescribing.

What This Study Found The program to promote cautious antibiotic prescribing reached its intended audience and was welcomed by doctors as a tool for parent education. According to participating doctors, the program had little influence on their attitudes and practices, but most report prescribing antibiotics appropriately. Doctors suggest that frequent repetition of brief, consistent messages to parents and doctors, brief handouts, and promotion in the mass media are effective ways to educate the public and the medical profession about antibiotic use.

Implications

• Educational campaigns that repeat brief, consistent reminders to multiple groups may be most effective at assuring appropriate use of antibiotics.