E-DRUG: Kindergartners Help Decrease Inappropriate Antibiotic Use
-------------------------------------------------------
We all know that AMR is a global problem exacerbated by inappropriate use of antibiotics, especially for common viral illnesses such as colds and flu. Inappropriate use is especially likely in countries where antibiotics are available over-the-counter. This suggests that the primary target for education should be consumers where incentives for �doing the right thing� include saving the money wasted on antibiotics. Thus, I am delighted to tell you about an innovative program that convinced me that kindergarten children can help solve the problem of inappropriate use of antibiotics for colds and flu. This program was conceived by Natalia Cebotarenco, MD, PhD, director of DrugInfo Moldova.
A questionnaire previously given to the children�s mothers by Dr. Cebotarenco indicated that 72% of the children had a cold or flu the prior winter and 76 % of these had been given an antibiotic with 69% obtained via a doctor�s prescription.
I spent June 4-7 in two Moldovan cities, Tiraspol and Bricini. In Tiraspol, I saw children from 18 kindergartens present a program, 'Don�t take antibiotics for colds and flu' as part of an international conference, Global Priorities for Children: Medicine Education and Better Medicines. Each kindergarten developed its own presentation consistent with the primary message. Tiraspol�s community auditorium was filled with parents, teachers, hospital directors, physicians, pharmacists, administrators, the district chairman, and the media. Two days later, a similar program was presented by three pilot kindergartens in Bricini. Clearly, an advantage of having the program in kindergarten is that parents will come to see their children perform. In higher grades, parents are less likely to attend.
For some of the skits, the children were costumed as viruses, bacteria, and antibiotics, with the larger bacteria killed by the antibiotics while the viruses survived. An adult Dr. Doolittle figure helped the children and reinforced the message. Early on, some of the children ran through the audience blowing bubbles 'to spread their cold and flu viruses.' Parents were called to the stage to answer questions by lining up behind signs (Yes, No, DK), e.g., Do antibiotics kill viruses? Prevention was urged via fruits, vegetables, washing hands, and using disposable tissues. The message was given over and over in entertaining presentations, "Don't take antibiotics for colds and flu." I doubt anyone there could ever forget this message.
After the program, which also included presentations on the "why, who, how, when and where" of teaching children about medicines, the attendees met in multidisciplinary groups and planned for the future. All groups wanted to extend the program to all kindergartens and teach children about medicines up through the school grades.
The attendees were pleased to learn about the Finnish curriculum (available without charge in Finnish and in beta testing in English www.uku.fi/medicinescurriculum) and plan to have it translated into Russian and Romanian. This curriculum is based on USP�s Guide to Developing and Evaluating Medicine Education Programs for Children and Adolescents published by the United States Pharmacopeia (www.USP.org) and the American School Health Association
We met later in Moldova�s capital, Chisinau, with the Minister of Health and he pledged his cooperation in extending medicine education to all schoolchildren and to support training physicians and pharmacists to communicate with children. We think Moldova may be the second country (after Finland) to mandate that children be taught about medicines.
For more information contact Natalia Cebotarenco, MD, PhD, at DrugInfo Moldova (epn.nis@yahoo.com) or me (pjbushwork@comcast.net).
Patricia J. Bush, PhD
Professor Emeritus Georgetown U. School of Medicine
6825 Grenadier Blvd
APT 1405
Naples, FL 34108-7218
USA
Tel: 239-591-8550
pjbushwork@comcast.net