Observational Study
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2016.
World J Clin Pediatr. May 8, 2016; 5(2): 198-205
Published online May 8, 2016. doi: 10.5409/wjcp.v5.i2.198
Table 1 Characteristics of the groups of parents enrolled n (%)
CharacteristicTotalCenter ACenter BCenter CCenter D
n = 600n = 150n = 150n = 150n = 150
Enrolled parent
Mother414 (69)105 (70)96 (64)116 (77)97 (65)
Father186 (31)45 (30)54 (36)34 (23)53 (35)
Mother age
20-30 yr150 (36)44 (42)42 (44)36 (31)28 (29)
31-40 yr214 (52)53 (51)48 (50)65 (48)57 (59)
> 40 yr50 (12)8 (7)6 (6)24 (21)12 (12)
Father age
20-30 yr31 (17)5 (11)14 (26)5 (15)7 (13)
31-40 yr116 (62)35 (78)30 (56)16 (47)35 (66)
> 40 yr39 (21)5 (11)10 (18)13 (38)11 (21)
Working mothers316 (76)82 (78)75 (78)86 (74)73 (75)
Housewives9823 (22)21 (22)30 (26)24 (25)
Working fathers17141 (91)51 (94)30 (88)49 (92)
Unemployed fathers15 (8)4 (9)3 (6)4 (12)4 (8)
Parental education
< high school132 (1)06 (4)5 (3)
High school27868 (45)54 (36)88 (59)68 (45)
College20955 (37)62 (41)42 (28)50 (34)
> college10025 (17)34 (23)14 (9)27 (18)
Parental past experience with otitis
Yes411112 (75)101 (68)100 (67)98 (65)
Not18137 (25)47 (31)48 (32)49 (33)
“I don’t know”81 (1)2 (1)2 (1)3 (2)
Table 2 Parental knowledge on acute otitis media treatment n (%)
CCCCC treatment/statementTotalCenter ACenter BCenter CCenter D
n = 600n = 150n = 150n = 150n = 150
Antibiotics1332 (56)82 (55)100 (60)a74 (50)a76 (51)
Ear drops1147 (25)55 (37)26 (17)31 (21)35 (23)
Tympanocentesis126 (4)4 (2)2 (1)9 (6)11 (8)
Paracetamol16 (1)03 (2)2 (1)1 (1)
Homeopathic drops120 (3)07 (4)6 (4)7 (4)
No need to treat14 (2)04 (2)5 (3)5 (3)
“I don’t know”55 (9)9 (6)c8 (5)c23 (15)c15 (10)c
Recovery w/o antibiotics is possible
Yes269 (45)61 (41)70 (47)64 (43)74 (50)
No162 (27)32 (21)32 (21)54 (36)44 (29)
“I don’t know”169 (28)57 (38)48 (32)32 (21)32 (21)
Knowledge on antibiotic resistance
Yes344 (57)117 (78)b89 (59)58 (39)b80 (53)
No144 (24)14 (9)29 (19)64 (43)37 (25)
“I don’t know”112 (19)19 (13)32 (22)28 (18)33 (22)
Parental concern on unsuccessful outcome w/o antibiotics
Yes442 (74)111 (74)110 (73)101 (67)120 (80)
Not158 (26)39 (26)40 (27)49 (33)30 (20)
Parental concern on unsuccessful outcome w/o antibioticsn = 442n = 111n = 110n = 101n = 120
Pain and suffering131 (30)37 (33)28 (25)35 (35)31 (26)
High fever110 (25)21 (19)26 (24)32 (32)37 (31)
Other complications201 (45)53 (48)56 (51)34 (33)52 (43)
Table 3 Parental knowledge about the watchful waiting approach for acute otitis media therapy n (%)
StatementTotalCenter ACenter BCenter CCenter D
n = 600n = 150n = 150n = 150n = 150
Physician recommendation in the past
Yes1194 (40)69 (61)b41 (37)b40 (32)b44 (32)b
Not1291 (60)44 (39)69 (63)85 (68)93 (68)
Not relevant115 (19)37 (25)40 (27)25 (17)13 (9)
Acceptance of WW recommendation
Yes337 (55)79 (52)70 (47)a92 (61)95 (63)a
Probably yes178 (30)45 (30)51 (34)46 (31)36 (24)
No5 (9)22 (15)17 (11)5 (3)7 (5)
“I don’t know”33 (6)4 (3)12 (8)7 (5)12 (8)
Want to be included in physician decisions
Yes552 (92)135 (90)129 (86)143 (95)145 (97)
Probably yes36 (6)11 (7)17 (11)6 (4)2 (1)
No5 (1)3 (2)002 (1)
“I don’t know”7 (1)1 (1)4 (3)1 (1)1 (1)
Table 4 Logistic regression analysis: Parameters influencing the parental willingness to accept the watchful waiting approach
ParametersP valueOR(95%CI)
LowerUpper
Previous AOM history0.0120.3410.1480.778
Knowledge on antibiotic resistance0.0262.0011.0873.685
Parental education0.0281.4610.7892.706
Parental age0.6070.9860.9361.040