Finnish Healthcare Professionals' Online Searches for Paediatric Oral Antibiotics: COVID‐19 Impact, 2017–2023

Aim This study explores the trends in healthcare professionals' searches for children's oral suspension of antibiotics and antibiotic prescriptions, as well as COVID‐19 diagnoses in children under 5–6 years of age. Methods In Finland, Physician's Databases serve as a medical online source for healthcare professionals. Searches for seven oral suspensions of antibiotics (amoxicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, phenoxymethylpenicillin, cephalexin, azithromycin, clarithromycin and erythromycin) were analysed in 2017–2023, alongside children's antibiotic prescriptions from the Social Insurance Institution, as well as children's COVID‐19 diagnoses from the register of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare. Results There were 1 231 383 antibiotic searches, 492 407 antibiotic prescriptions and 42 293 diagnoses for COVID‐19 in children. Amoxicillin was searched most (498 276) with clear seasonal patterns, and the decrease appeared in searches and prescriptions during March 2020–August 2021. Amoxicillin searches also showed an increase with two major peaks during September 2021–August 2023. Conclusion Healthcare professionals' online information‐seeking for children's oral suspension of antibiotics showed a great decrease in searches after the start of COVID‐19 but rapidly increased 2 years later. Information‐seeking behaviour may be used to monitor the clinical use of antibiotics in children.