Objective: To understand the caregivers’ doubts

difficulties

and misunderstandings of rational use of antimicrobial agents in children

and to provide references for carrying out targeted science popularization activities and promoting rational use of antibiotics in children. Methods: Open questionnaire survey was conducted in 11 third-class hospitals to collect the top 20 frequent questions of rational use of antimicrobial agents in children. Each questionnaire survey with 15 experts was conducted to select which questions were suitable and urgent for carrying out science popularization activities

and these questions were analyzed through hierarchical analysis. Results: A total of 220 questions about children’s rational use of antimicrobial agents were collected and 127 ones were screened out

consisting of 12 categories and 27 kinds of common diseases in pediatrics

gynecology

and obstetrics

involving 29 antibiotics of 11 categories. The results showed that the caregivers were still insufficient in such basic knowledge as common sense of antimicrobial agents

posology and method of administration

therapeutic indications

selection of variety

course of administration

interaction with other medicinal products and food

adverse drug reactions

distribution

and household spare drugs. Conclusion: For caregivers

there are still some confusions and misunderstandings about the rational use of antibiotics in children

and there is a high demand for popular science. Demand-centered and various forms of popular science activities are of great significance to promote the medication safety in children.