A study of knowledge, attitude and practices about otitis media in parents in Navi-Mumbai

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices Regarding Risk Factors for Otitis Media among Caretakers of Children in Puducherry- A Descriptive Cross Sectional Study

Otitis media is a common childhood disease in developing countries and is the most important cause of preventable hearing loss among Indian children. To study the knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding risk factors for otitis media among caretakers of children in Puducherry. This was a questionnaire based descriptive cross-sectional study conducted from April 2023 to June 2023. All the caregivers of children aged 2-12 years presented or diagnosed with otitis media under our inclusion criteria were interviewed. Overall, most caretakers displayed good knowledge (67%), positive attitude (62%) and good care-seeking practices (49%). There was a positive correlation with sociodemographic parameters. The odd's ratio for overcrowding was high (OR = 4, p = 0.042 for knowledge and attitude, OR = 3.929, p = 0.041 for practices). Higher score was seen among middle class with odd's ratio 1.417 for knowledge and attitude and 4.875 for practices (p = 0.041). Graduate parents had higher score with the odd's ratio that was statistically significant. Most of the caregivers had a good knowledge regarding symptoms of otitis media and an acceptable level of caregivers' attitude and care seeking practices. Higher scores were associated with overcrowding, socioeconomic status, parental education. Improvement in risk factors and providing health education will reduce prevalence of OM in children and thereby reduce preventable hearing loss in children.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12070-024-04551-9.

Parents' Knowledge of and Attitude toward Acute Otitis Media and Its Treatment in Children: A Survey at Primary Healthcare Centers in the Aseer Region

BACKGROUND

Acute otitis media (AOM) in children aged 5 years old and younger poses a critical health concern, affecting both the general health of children and the emotional well-being of parents. The objective of this study was to evaluate parental understanding, attitudes, and experiences related to AOM and its management, including the use of antibiotics without physician prescription.

METHOD

A cross-sectional study was carried out during the months of May and June of 2023. To collect data for this study, a validated questionnaire was converted into a Google form and given to parents of children aged 5 years and younger who sought healthcare for their children in primary healthcare centers in Abha city, Aseer region, Saudi Arabia.

RESULTS

A total of 406 parents participated in this study, 64.8% of them were women and 45.3% of them were in the age range of 25 to 34 years. The majority (90.1%) resided in urban areas and a significant proportion (72.2%) had a university education. Among the respondents, 22.7% agreed that bacteria are the cause of AOM, while 21.7% agreed that it is caused by viruses. A total of 51.0% acknowledged the need for antibiotics in the management of AOM. In terms of treatment, 84.5% and 83.5% believed that analgesics and antibiotics, respectively, were the most effective for otalgia. A substantial portion, 43.1%, 34.7%, and 37.7%, respectively, believed that antibiotics could reduce pain, relieve fever, and prevent recurrence. Almost three-quarters sought medical advice primarily from paediatricians and 37.7% obtained information about AOM from the Internet. Furthermore, almost a third (28.8%) chose not to wait for the physician's appointment and immediately administered antibiotics without the physician's prescription due to concerns about disease progression. Approximately two fifths (38.4%) requested physicians to prescribe antibiotics, a pattern that was in agreement with the actual rate of antibiotic prescriptions (38.4%).

CONCLUSIONS

A notable deficiency in knowledge and unsafe practices about AOM and its management is evident among parents in the Aseer region. This underscores the pressing need for an educational program aimed at improving parental health literacy regarding otitis media causes and treatments, as well as its preventive measures.

Assessing the Impact of Health Education Intervention on Asthma Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices: A Cross-Sectional Study in Erbil, Iraq

Asthma causes chronic coughing, wheezing, dyspnea, and chest pressure. This study assessed asthmatic patients' knowledge, attitudes, and practice (KAP) of bronchial asthma and proper education on its meaning, risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, management, and prevention practices. We performed a cross-sectional interventional asthma KAP survey in Erbil, Iraq. We adapted a validated study questionnaire from KAP studies in other nations to the Erbil situation and culture. In Erbil, Kurdistan, Iraq, two major hospitals' asthma clinics were studied. We chose 250 asthmatic patients from October 2018 to July 2019. Health education was comprehensive. The health education program used a Kurdish PowerPoint with a printout. Twenty-five groups received two weeks of one-hour health education pre-intervention. Each group was questioned before, 2 weeks after, and 12 weeks after health education. All data were analyzed by SPSS v26. The mean age of the respondents was 37.52 ± 15.16, with 48.7% of the respondents having a positive family history of asthma. After 2 weeks of health education intervention, respondents had a higher knowledge score and positive attitudes compared to pre-education, and after 12 weeks of education, there was a significant difference (p < 0.001) with improvised prevention practice. Health education programs led to considerable improvements in asthmatic patients' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding their condition. After receiving health education for a period of two weeks, the majority of the participants answered correctly regarding asthma, its causes, and the elements that trigger asthma attacks.

Effects of online social media on improving mothers' behaviors towards preventing their children's otitis media based on the PRECED model: a randomized educational intervention trial

BACKGROUND

Otitis media is one of the most common diseases in children, especially those under 2 years of age. This study aimed to investigate the effect of educational intervention based on the PRECEDE model on mothers' preventive behaviors of middle ear infections in infants.

METHODS

This study was conducted as an educational randomized controlled trial on 88 mothers with infants referred to health centers in Arak, Iran. Sampling from September 2021 to February 2022 selected trough stratified random sampling who were assigned to two groups of experimental = 44 and control = 44. The data collection tool was a reliable and valid questionnaire that included demographic information, constructs of PRECEDE model regarding otitis media, and preventive behaviors. The experimental group received 4 training sessions (each session 60 min) through WhatsApp social network. Information was collected through an online questionnaire before and 3 months after the educational intervention from both groups. Data analysis was also performed with SPSS version 23.

RESULTS

Before the educational intervention there was no significant difference between the experimental and control groups in the otitis media preventive behaviors and structures of PRECEDE model (p > 0.05). After the educational intervention, in the experimental group the average score of knowledge from 0.49 to 0.81, attitude from 4.01 to 4.58, enabling factors from 0.72 to 0.85, reinforcing factors from 3.31 to 3.91 and behavior from 3.25 to 3.66 increased significantly (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

PRECEDE-based education with controlling, monitoring and follow-up during the program was effective in promoting the preventive behaviors of otitis media. Therefore, due to the side effects of otitis media, especially in vulnerable periods such as childhood, it is recommended that trainings based on this model be carried out in other health care centers and clinics in order to maintain children health.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This trial has been registered at the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials, IRCT20210202050228N1. Prospectively registered at 2021-May-21, (2021/05/21) available at: URL: https://en.irct.ir/trial/54073 .

Benefit of Educational Video on Parental Knowledge, Attitude and Practice About Middle Ear Infection in Children

The aim of the study was to determine the benefit of educational video on parental knowledge, attitude and practice about risk factors of middle ear infection in children. An educational video was developed in English with information on anatomy of the ear, signs and symptoms, risk factors, consequences, prevention, and management related to ear infections. A KAP (Knowledge, attitude and practice) questionnaire was also developed comprising of 33 questions. Parents were requested to fill the questionnaire online and after watching the educational video they were asked to fill the same questionnaire after 1 month. 61 parents responded to both pre questionnaire and post questionnaire. In knowledge domain, thirty five parents gave correct answers to more than sixty percent of questions in the pre questionnaire and fifty six parents gave correct answers to more than sixty percent of the question in the post questionnaire. In attitude domain, all sixty one parents gave correct answers to more than sixty percent of questions in the pre questionnaire. In practice domain, twenty six parents gave correct answers to more than sixty percent of questions in the pre questionnaire and forty nine parents gave correct answers to more than sixty percent of the question in the post questionnaire after watching the educational video. Using the test of proportion, there was statistically significant difference in scores in pre questionnaire and post questionnaire in knowledge and practice domain. In the present study, there was statistically significant improvement in parents overall knowledge and practice about middle ear infection after watching the educational video.

Knowledge and Attitudes of Parents towards Childhood Hearing Loss and Pediatric Hearing Services in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

The successful implementation of pediatric audiology services depends on parental engagement and support. It is essential to analyze the gaps in knowledge level and attitude of the parents in United Arab Emirates (UAE), towards pediatric hearing loss and pediatric audiology services. The present study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitude of parents in Sharjah, UAE.A cross-sectional survey was administered to 295 parents in a tertiary care hospital setting. The self-reported questionnaire consisted of 26 items. 34.2% of the parents ascertaining good knowledge and 65.8% reported poor knowledge regarding the various factors related to the childhood hearing loss. Further, 86.2% of parents reported positive attitudes regarding accessing pediatric audiology services. A significant association was found between age groups, educational status, and knowledge levels. The study highlights the poor knowledge demonstrated by parents in the UAE regarding hearing loss and its associated risk factors. Findings outline the critical need in the region to enhance parental awareness. More health promotion activities and community outreach campaigns are necessary to increase the uptake of pediatric audiology services in the region.