Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices about Electronic Personal Health Records: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Region of Northern Italy.

The Electronic Personal Health Record (EPHR) provides an innovative service for citizens and professionals to manage health data, promoting patient-centred care. It enhances communication between patients and physicians and improves accessibility to documents for remote medical information management. The study aims to assess the prevalence of awareness and acceptance of the EPHR in northern Italy and define determinants and barriers to its implementation. In 2022, a region-wide cross-sectional study was carried out through a paper-based and online survey shared among adult citizens. Univariable and multivariable regression models analysed the association between the outcome variables (knowledge and attitudes toward the EPHR) and selected independent variables. Overall, 1634 people were surveyed, and two-thirds were aware of the EPHR. Among those unaware of the EPHR, a high prevalence of specific socio-demographic groups, such as foreign-born individuals and those with lower educational levels, was highlighted. Multivariable regression models showed a positive association between being aware of the EPHR and educational level, health literacy, and perceived poor health status, whereas age was negatively associated. A higher knowledge of the EPHR was associated with a higher attitude towards the EPHR. The current analysis confirms a lack of awareness regarding the existence of the EPHR, especially among certain disadvantaged demographic groups. This should serve as a driving force for a powerful campaign tailored to specific categories of citizens for enhancing knowledge and usage of the EPHR. Involving professionals in promoting this tool is crucial for helping patients and managing health data.

Assessment of Italian Population Awareness on One-Health, Zoonoses and the Mpox Vaccine: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study.

In recent decades, the rise of zoonotic diseases has emerged as a significant human health concern, highlighting the interconnectedness of human and animal health within the framework of the "One Health" (OH) concept. This study, conducted in Italy in 2023, sought to gauge the general population's awareness of OH and zoonotic diseases while identifying influencing factors. Additionally, it aimed to assess awareness of an Mpox virus vaccine, particularly pertinent due to the 2022 outbreak across Europe. The online cross-sectional study encompassed 1058 participants, revealing that 54.26% were unfamiliar with OH and zoonoses. Median knowledge scores were 12 points (IQR = 9-15) for zoonoses and 8 points (IQR = 6-11) for OH. Notably, factors such as age, economic situation, healthcare employment, educational level, and health literacy significantly influenced knowledge scores. Merely 26.8% of participants were aware of the existence of an Mpox vaccine, with healthcare workers, individuals engaged in animal-related work, and non-heterosexual men demonstrating higher awareness. The findings underscored a limited public understanding of zoonotic diseases and One Health, with variations observed across specific demographic groups. Given the potential impact on public health, urgent educational initiatives are warranted. Moreover, the study highlighted a low awareness of the Mpox vaccine, emphasizing the necessity for targeted awareness campaigns directed at both professionals and the general public.

Parental Perception of Children's Mental Health During the Pandemic: Insights From an Italian Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: This study explores the impact of the pandemic on children's mental health. It examined the understanding of parents regarding their children's mental condition and their ability to identify issues, 2 years post the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Using a cross-sectional design, 507 Italian parents reported on their youngest child aged between 2 and 17, totaling 507 children. The outcomes focused on were parental perception of children's mental health deterioration, scores on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) above the clinical cut-off, and parental under-recognition of mental health issues. Descriptive analyses and multivariable logistic regression models were executed (significance at p < .05). RESULTS: Parents were 88.1% women (median age 41 years, interquartile range [IQR] = 36-47). Their children were 50.3% female [median age 6 years (IQR = 4-11)]. The data revealed 21.1% of parents perceived a deterioration in their children's mental health, while 44.2% had SDQ scores above the cut-off. Parental under-recognition of mental issues was found in 20.1% of cases. Significant correlations were found between parental perception of deterioration, SDQ scores, and factors like parental mental distress and children's sleep issues. IMPLICATIONS: The findings suggest that schools and verified websites can serve as critical conduits for providing parents with reliable information. By promoting early identification and intervention, such mechanisms can help ensure mental health equity for children. CONCLUSIONS: The research highlights the effect of the pandemic on children's mental health and the issue of parental under-recognition. The results underscore the importance of public health initiatives that enhance mental health information accessibility and reliability for parents.

Gender medicine attitudes among medical students: An Italian cross-sectional study.

We aimed to explore attitudes and training experiences of medical students toward gender medicine (GM). A cross-sectional study with convenience sampling was conducted (sample size = 430). To assess predictors of high GM consideration in patient management, a multivariable logistic regression was performed. A total of 82% considered sex and gender important; 61% stated that they would use GM skills in their careers. A total of 76% had never discussed GM with their tutors, with differences between male and female students (p = .002). Predictors of high GM consideration were: age (adjOR = 1.4, 95%CI = 1.1-1.8) and the impression that tutors considered patients' sex and gender during practice (adjOR = 3.9, 95%CI = 2.0-7.6). Thus, participants considered GM important, but some students were unsure whether it could be useful in practice. The strongest predictor of high GM consideration was the tutors' good example during training. It would be advisable to implement the teaching of this topic during both courses and traineeships.

Exploring the potential of ChatGPT for clinical reasoning and decision-making: a cross-sectional study on the Italian Medical Residency Exam.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the performance of ChatGPT, a large language model (LLM), on the Italian State Exam for Medical Residency (SSM) test to determine its potential as a tool for medical education and clinical decision-making support. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 136 questions were obtained from the official SSM test. ChatGPT responses were analyzed and compared to the performance of medical doctors who took the test in 2022. Questions were classified into clinical cases (CC) and notional questions (NQ). RESULTS: ChatGPT achieved an overall accuracy of 90.44%, with higher performance on clinical cases (92.45%) than on notional questions (89.15%). Compared to medical doctors' scores, ChatGPT performance was higher than 99.6% of the participants. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that ChatGPT holds promise as a valuable tool in clinical decision-making, particularly in the context of clinical reasoning. Further research is needed to explore the potential applications and implementation of large language models (LLMs) in medical education and medical practice.

Population-level benefits of increasing influenza vaccination uptake among Italian older adults: results from a granular panel model.

Background: The impact of seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) on mortality is still controversial; some studies have claimed that increasing vaccination coverage rates is beneficial, while others have found no significant association. This study aimed to construct a granular longitudinal dataset of local VCRs and assess their effect on pneumonia- and influenza-related (P&I) mortality among Italian adults aged ≥ 65 years. Methods: NUTS-3 (nomenclature of territorial units for statistics) level data on SIV coverage were collected via a survey of local data holders. Fixed- and random-effects panel regression modeling, when adjusted for potential confounders, was performed to assess the association between local SIV coverage rates and P&I mortality in older adults. Results: A total of 1,144 local VCRs from 2003 to 2019 were ascertained. In the fully adjusted fixed-effects model, each 1% increase in vaccination coverage was associated (P < 0.001) with a 0.6% (95% CI: 0.3-0.9%) average over-time decrease in P&I mortality. With an annual average of 9,293 P&I deaths in Italy, this model suggested that 56 deaths could have been avoided each year by increasing SIV coverage by 1%. The random-effects model produced similar results. The base-case results were robust in a sensitivity analysis. Conclusion: Over the last two decades, Italian jurisdictions with higher SIV uptake had, on average, fewer P&I deaths among older adults. Local policy-makers should implement effective strategies to increase SIV coverage in the Italian senior population.

Vaccination and Trust in the National Health System among HIV+ Patients: An Italian Cross-Sectional Survey.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practises (KAP) of individuals living with HIV (PLWH) regarding vaccines and their trust in the Italian national health system (NHS). METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at Amedeo di Savoia Hospital in Turin, Italy, involving 160 HIV-positive patients. Descriptive statistics were utilised to analyse variables such as vaccination status and intention, perceived risk of infection, and disease severity. The infections were categorised into sexually transmitted diseases and other vaccine-preventable diseases. RESULTS: Except for the perceived severity of infection, there were no significant differences in the percentages between the two infection groups for the variables examined. Concerning patients' perception of the Italian NHS, a high percentage of the sample believed in the information provided by healthcare workers (HCWs) (95.6%) and considered HCWs up-to-date on vaccines (93.1%). However, a considerable proportion expressed concerns about insufficient information on vaccine risks from HCWs (33.3%), perceived judgement by HCWs for vaccine refusal (40.3%), and suspected financial interests of HCWs in vaccination (19.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Some HIV+ patients may hesitate to be vaccinated or hold misconceptions about the severity of certain infectious diseases. Additionally, there are concerns about trust in the Italian NHS and communication by HCWs.

Candida auris: A bibliometric analysis of an emerging global health threat.

BACKGROUND: Candida auris (CA) is an emerging fungus, classified as an urgent global health threat, that resists common antifungal drugs and decontamination procedures; identification requires specific tools; transmissibility and mortality are high in healthcare settings. Infection and colonisation can be long-lasting, leading to problems in isolation procedures and the risk of outbreaks. This study aims to evaluate publication and citation related metrics, identify major keywords and topics, and assess geographic distribution of published articles. METHODS: A list of all publications containing "Candida auris" in all fields was extracted from Web Of Science on date 2023/01/02. Bibliometric analysis was conducted using the bibliometrix and biblioshiny packages on RStudio. RESULTS: Total publications (TP) were 1283 with an annual growth rate of 53.91%. Total citations were 27854, with an average of 21.71 citations per paper. The core sources are 9 out of 322, according to Bradford's law. In only 42 countries where CA was identified, articles on the topic were published (89%). The origin of TP is concentrated in high-income countries (68.22%). Trending topics about CA include epidemiology, identification and resistance. CONCLUSION: Our analysis shows a growing interest in scientific literature on the topic of CA, led by Europe. In some countries where CA has been identified, no papers have been published. Despite the multidrug-resistance of CA, the topic of therapy is not much debated. Our findings highlight the need to increase focus on CA in order to promote health systems' preparedness and to properly address the spread of this worrisome pathogen.

Cardiology in a Digital Age: Opportunities and Challenges for e-Health: A Literature Review.

To date, mortality rates associated with heart diseases are dangerously increasing, making them the leading cause of death globally. From this point of view, digital technologies can provide health systems with the necessary support to increase prevention and monitoring, and improve care delivery. The present study proposes a review of the literature to understand the state of the art and the outcomes of international experiences. A reference framework is defined to develop reflections to optimize the use of resources and technologies, favoring the development of new organizational models and intervention strategies. Findings highlight the potential significance of e-health and telemedicine in supporting novel solutions and organizational models for cardiac illnesses as a response to the requirements and restrictions of patients and health systems. While privacy concerns and technology-acceptance-related issues arise, new avenues for research and clinical practice emerge, with the need to study ad hoc managerial models according to the type of patient and disease.

Risk perception, knowledge about SARS-CoV-2, and perception towards preventive measures in Italy: a nationwide cross-sectional study.

Introduction: After COVID-19 outbreak, governments adopted several containment measures. Risk perception and knowledge may play a crucial role since they can affect compliance with preventive measures. This study aimed to explore the extent and the associated factors of risk perception, knowledge regarding SARS-CoV2, and perception towards preventive measures among the Italian population. Methods: A nationwide cross-sectional study involving adults was conducted in April-May 2021: an online survey was distributed through social media. The outcomes were: Knowledge Score (KS) (0 to 100%: higher scores correspond to higher COVID-19 related knowledge); Risk Perception Score (RPS) (1 to 4: higher values indicate higher concern); Preventive measures Perception Score (PPS) (1 to 4: higher values indicate higher confidence). Multivariable regression models were performed. Results: A total of 1120 participants were included. Median KS was 79.5% (IQR = 72.7%-86.4%). Lower education and poor economic conditions were negatively associated with the KS. Median RPS was 2.8 (IQR = 2.4-3.2). Female gender, sharing house with a fragile person, suffering from a chronic disease, having a family member/close friend who contracted SARS-CoV-2 infection were positively associated with the RPS. Median PPS was 3.1 (IQR = 2.8-3.4). Lower educational level was negatively associated with the PPS. Vaccine hesitancy was negatively associated with all three outcomes. The three scores were positively associated with each other. Conclusions: Fair levels of knowledge, risk perception and perception towards preventive measures were reported. Reciprocal relationships between the outcomes and a relevant relationship with vaccine hesitancy were highlighted. Further investigations should be focused on studying underlying determinants and consequences.

Virtual hospitals: The future of the healthcare system? An expert consensus.

Today, social and healthcare systems at a global level are facing constant challenges dictated by an increasing mismatch between the demand for care services and the supply of human and economic resources. Such a situation has been exacerbated in the past two years by the Covid-19 pandemic. This has led to an increase in the leverage of digitalisation, which has proved to be a crucial tool for the development and application of new organisational models at both hospital and territorial levels, thus addressing the various criticalities already present in the system. In this sense, the Virtual Hospital has emerged as a potential model for increasing effectiveness and efficiency in delivering sociomedical services. Starting from these premises, an EFTE (estimate, feedback, talk, estimate) approach was used to acquire an expert consensus within a multidisciplinary panel of academics and healthcare managers of the Veneto Region in Italy. This article reports the expert opinion on the possible application of the Virtual Hospital model in the national context, starting from the existing international evidence and good practices, highlighting the potential advantages and barriers to its implementation. Furthermore, the article analyses the most relevant areas of investment for the development of intangible assets and the acquisition of tangible assets necessary for its implementation.

Exploring Knowledge and Awareness of HCV Infection and Screening Test: A Cross-Sectional Survey Among an Italian Sample.

Addressing HCV represents a public health priority, especially in Italy, which has the highest HCV prevalence in Europe. This study primarily aimed to explore knowledge about the HCV infection and awareness of the existence of the HCV screening test in Italy, before the implementation of awareness campaigns in 2022. An online cross-sectional survey was conducted (December 2021-January 2022). The primary outcomes were: Disease Knowledge Score (DKS), Prevention and Transmission Knowledge Score (PTKS) (for both: scoring from 0 to 100%, higher scores corresponded to higher knowledge), and being unaware of the existence of the HCV screening. The final sample consisted of 813 participants. The median DKS was 75% (IQR = 66.7-83.3), the median PTKS was 46.2% (IQR = 38.5-53.8), and 23.2% of participants were unaware of HCV screening. Higher education, health-related study or profession, history of accidental injuries, being affected by HCV and having actively searched for information on HCV had positive associations with DKS. LGBT males showed significantly lower DKS. Considering PTKS, participants affected by HCV the disease had a negative association with this score. Having a postgraduate education reduced the likelihood of not knowing about the HCV screening test, while having at least one family member affected by hepatitis C increased this probability. This study highlighted a concerning lack of knowledge about prevention and transmission, indicating a need for targeted education campaigns. The findings emphasized the importance of information and motivation and identified male LGBT + individuals as a vulnerable group with limited disease knowledge. Future research should concern the effectiveness of awareness campaigns.

The Environmental Health Literacy of Italian General Population: The SPeRA Cross-Sectional Study.

Environmental health literacy (EHL) includes knowledge of health effects due to environmental exposure and skills to protect health from environmental risks. This study investigated some aspects about EHL of the Italian adult population. Data were collected through questionnaires (n = 672) and analysed through multivariable logistic regression models. Results showed that participants with incomplete/insufficient self-perceived knowledge of health effects due to environmental risks verified less information about this topic (adjOR = 0.38 (CI95% 0.25-0.59)/0.09 (0.04-0.21); p < 0.001/<0.001), potentially spreading fake news. The self-perceived exposure to pollution was higher in participants living in towns than in rural areas (small, medium, big towns adjOR = 2.37 (1.41-3.97), 2.10 (1.11-3.96), 3.11 (1.53-6.31); p = 0.001, 0.022, 0.002) and lower in participants with incomplete/insufficient knowledge about pollution effects (adjOR = 0.54 (0.32-0.92)/0.30 (0.13-0.67); p = 0.022/0.004), confirming that knowledge is essential to achieve awareness. Since insufficient self-perceived knowledge of pollution effects was negatively associated with the adoption of pro-environmental behaviours (adjOR = 0.37 (0.15-0.90); p = 0.028), EHL was proven to be a virtuous behaviour promoter. Finally, a lack of institutional support, time and cost were identified as barriers to pro-environmental behaviours. This study provided useful data to design prevention programmes, underlined some barriers to pro-environmental behaviours and highlighted the need to promote attitudes and behaviours aimed at contrasting environmental pollution, thus protecting human health.

Facilitating discharge planning: the Risk Assessment of Complex Discharge Index.

BACKGROUND: Untimely social interventions prolong hospitalizations, suggesting discharge planning should begin early. This study aimed to create a tool to identify, already in Emergency department, patients at risk of complex discharge for social reasons. METHODS: We developed the Risk Assessment of Complex Discharge Index (RACDI). In Emergency department, we administered RACDI to patients destined to hospitalization. We calculated sensitivity and specificity of RACDI in identifying patients who need a social intervention. RACDI was compared with simplified BRASS. A multivariable logistic regression explored social intervention predictors (P-value < 0.05). RESULTS: RACDI was administered to 296 patients. There were significant associations between classes of risk defined by RACDI or by simplified BRASS and social intervention. The sensitivity of RACDI and simplified BRASS was, respectively, 0.59 and 0.43; the specificity 0.81 and 0.83. Chances of social intervention were higher for patients at high risk with RACDI (adjOR:3.13, 95% CI: 1.23-8.00, P = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: The reduced items and mostly dichotomous answers made RACDI a tool easy to be used in daily practice. RACDI helps in classifying patients needing discharge planning for social care and is a starting point to standardize the evaluation of social context early in hospitalization. Further work is needed to overcome limitations and assess additional outcomes.

Sex Education in Italy: An Overview of 15 Years of Projects in Primary and Secondary Schools.

School-based sex education is essential to improve the knowledge and behavior of young people. Unlike most European countries, sex education in Italy is not compulsory in the school curriculum. Therefore, to assess potential gaps, the main aim of this study was to explore Italian regional initiatives about sex education. A review of gray literature from 2006 to 2021 was conducted in December 2021 on national databases and institutional websites of each Italian region, during which official documents on regional sex education programs were selected. Moreover, a rapid systematic review was carried out in scientific databases to find more information. For both reviews, the sex education topics recommended by UNESCO were used for extracting and analyzing data. A total of 12 Italian regions out of 20 had at least one sex education program, for a total of 39 projects. Overall, all the topics identified by UNESCO have been covered, with considerable differences between northern, central, and southern Italy. Contraception, love, marriage, partnerships, and family were the main topics discussed (hosted in 92% of the regions). Only 25% of the regions discussed pregnancy and birth. Disability was the least debated topic (17%). The rapid systematic review showed that relevant improvements were achieved after sex education interventions. In conclusion, this study underlined important limitations to the implementation of school-based sex education in Italy. Hence, it is necessary to increase sex education interventions to reach adequate standards and flatten the differences not only between Italian regions but also between Italy and other European countries.

Exploring Cyberaggression and Mental Health Consequences among Adults: An Italian Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study.

Cyberaggression (CyA) embraces a broad spectrum of hostile behaviors through electronic means. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate features and outcomes of this phenomenon among Italian adults. A nationwide survey was distributed on social media platforms. Being victim and being perpetrator of CyA were the primary outcomes; positive scores for GAD-2 (generalized anxiety disorder) and PHQ-2 (depressive symptoms) scales were the secondary outcomes. In total, 446 surveys were collected. Considering the primary outcomes, 46.3% and 13.5% reported having been victims and perpetrators of CyA, respectively. Politics, ethnic minority, and sexual orientation were main subjects triggering CyA. A higher likelihood of being cyber-victims was observed for women and the LGBTQA+ group. Women were less likely to be CyA perpetrators. There was an association between being a CyA victim and a CyA perpetrator. A total of 22.4% and 34.0% respondents scored positive for PHQ-2 and GAD-2, respectively. The main mental health consequences after CyA exposure were anger and sadness, whereas sleep alterations and stomach ache were the most experienced psychosomatics symptoms. No significant relationships between PHQ-2/GAD-2 and CyA emerged. CyA also represents a crucial public health issue among Italian adults. Further investigations are needed to better define the phenomenon and to study the potential consequences on mental health.

Social media for psychological support of patients with chronic non-infectious diseases: a systematic review.

Psychological complications of chronic diseases are often underestimated because they may be interpreted as normal consequences of the underlying illness. Additionally, chronic patients may find several obstacles to healthcare access, including physical, socioeconomic, geographical and psychological barriers. Social media may be potential tools to provide psychological care extending the possibility of treatment where the offer is limited. This review aimed to explore the use of social media in administering psychological interventions to patients with chronic noncommunicable diseases. Following the PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review was conducted by searching PubMed, Embase and PsycInfo (from 2004 to 2021). Randomized controlled trials outlining the social media use in administering psychological assistance to patients with chronic noncommunicable diseases were considered eligible. Out of 9838 records identified, 75 papers were included. Peer-to-peer interaction was the most used (n = 22), mainly via chat rooms and forums. Interventions were mostly administered to patients with psychiatric (n = 41) or oncologic disorders (n = 12). This work highlighted a lack of tailored interventions based on disease, age or gender, and a use of a limited range of relatively old platforms such as emails, blogs and forums. To administer efficient interventions, it would be advisable to continuously analyze the evolving use of these tools.

Psychological symptoms are common among patients with chronic non-infectious diseases. Seldom treated properly, they are a major reason for a low quality of life. Chronic patients, like those who suffer from oncologic, psychiatric or heart diseases, could have difficulties in finding the right psychological support. One way to potentially reach anyone is using social media, which are often used by chronic patients for educational purposes about their diseases, or for finding psychological support from others with similar conditions. We wanted to study whether social media have been used in clinical research for administering psychological support to patients with chronic diseases. We studied the existing scientific literature doing a systematic review, finding that often social media were not used at their full potential. Peer-to-peer interactions were the most common interactions, chats rooms and forums the most common social media platforms. Participants were most commonly psychiatric and oncological patients. It is very important not to overlook powerful instruments like social media: they could be easily used by patients to empower themselves in managing their conditions. Social media could be an efficient way to easily provide chronic patients with psychological support either administered by health professionals, like psychotherapists, or by peers.

Mental health and adherence to Mediterranean diet among university students: an Italian cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: This study is aimed to explore severe mental illness (SMI), mental well-being (MWB), and Mediterranean Diet adherence (MedDiet) among university students. PARTICIPANTS: University students in Northern Italy (sample size = 502). METHODS: Cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2019. The questionnaires included Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale for MWB, K6 for SMI, Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener for MedDiet. Multivariable regressions were mainly performed (p < .05 as significant). RESULTS: MWB was high in 3.93% of the participants and low in 23.97%. SMI was probable in 21.87%. MedDiet adherence was high in 2.19% and low in 35.06%. Mainly, poor/very poor perceived health, Economics/Legal/Strategic Sciences courses, and not being on time with exams showed associations with both lower MWB and probable SMI. Gender and some lifestyle, dietary, and university factors predicted MedDiet. MWB and MedDiet were positively associated. CONCLUSIONS: This study found high levels of mental issues and low MedDiet. Modifiable factors at university level should be investigated to design preventive interventions.

Searching for an alliance with journalism: a survey to investigate health literacy in Italy.

OBJECTIVES: This study (GLASS) aimed to explore low health literacy (HL) prevalence among journalists and general population and factors associated with low HL. METHODS: GLASS was an Italian online cross-sectional study. Questionnaires included instruments for different HL dimensions: single item literacy screener (SILS), medical term recognition test (METER), medical data interpretation test (MDIT). For each instrument, multiple regressions were performed. RESULTS: Participants were 665. A total of 24.6%, 85.0%, and 58.9% journalists and 19.5%, 77.8%, and 62.6% general population reported low HL (SILS, METER, MDIT, respectively). Regressions showed that journalists who had never written about health and journalists who had personally written about health without being health journalists had a higher likelihood of low HL compared with health journalists. CONCLUSION: Since journalists are key players in public health, our findings are relevant; especially considering the context of the current pandemic. It would be advisable to bolster a stronger collaboration between professionals in the media world and the scientific community.

Antibiotics Self Medication among Children: A Systematic Review.

The phenomenon of bacterial antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a rapidly growing global problem. Overuse and misuse of antibiotics as well as self-prescription are among the most important causes contributing to the growth of antibiotic resistance in humans. This systematic review describes the phenomenon of antibiotics self-medication (ASM) in children. The study was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist by searching PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science until July 2022. Published English language studies containing information regarding parents knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors in self-administration of antibiotics in children were included. A total of 702 articles were identified, and 57 were selected. A higher prevalence of ASM among children was found in the Middle-East (34%), Africa (22%), Asia (20%) and South America (17%), while the lowest prevalence was found in Europe (8%). High distance from hospital, and low income, such as having more than one child, are related with an increased risk of ASM in children. Fever and cough can also promote the misuse of antibiotics by parents. A greater attention to the regulation of the sale of antimicrobial drugs can certainly limit the risk of self-medicating behavior.