Approximately one third of caregivers do not obtain a prescribed medication after their child’s pediatric emergency department (ED) visit. We sought to explore the facilitators and barriers that caregivers experience in accessing prescribed antibiotics after their child’s pediatric ED visit.

We conducted semistructured interviews with caregivers of children who presented to a quaternary academic pediatric ED and were discharged with prescribed antibiotics. An interview guide was developed by the study team based on literature review and expert opinion. Interviews were coded, and thematic analysis was performed. Descriptive statistical analysis was used for demographic characteristics and medication pick up rates.

Twenty-two interviews were completed. Caregivers unanimously felt that antibiotics were important. Themes pertaining to medication access included 1) pharmacy location and convenience, 2) pharmacy efficiency, responsiveness, and medication availability, 3) impact of receiving first dose of antibiotics in the ED, and 4) clear verbal and written communication by health care providers regarding diagnoses, medication indication, and discharge instructions.

Factors contributing to medication access have an underlying theme surrounding convenience and emphasis on the impact of first antibiotic dose administration during ED course. As such, consideration of systems changes that allow caregivers to leave the hospital with the entire course of antibiotics in hand may improve caregiver access to prescribed medications.