Communication strategies for improving public awareness on appropriate antibiotic use: Bridging a vital gap for action on antibiotic resistance
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is now a global public health issue and is projected to affect the longevity of people and increase health expenditure of countries. Its impact is going to be higher in low-middle income countries as the healthcare systems are suboptimal and ill-equipped to deal with t...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2019-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.jfmpc.com/article.asp?issn=2249-4863;year=2019;volume=8;issue=6;spage=1867;epage=1871;aulast=Mathew |
| _version_ | 1819055729600888832 |
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| author | Philip Mathew Satya Sivaraman Sujith Chandy |
| author_facet | Philip Mathew Satya Sivaraman Sujith Chandy |
| author_sort | Philip Mathew |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is now a global public health issue and is projected to affect the longevity of people and increase health expenditure of countries. Its impact is going to be higher in low-middle income countries as the healthcare systems are suboptimal and ill-equipped to deal with the issue. As antibiotic misuse is the primary driver for AMR, there is an acute need to create awareness among general public regarding antibiotic misuse. This calls for a comprehensive communication strategy, which takes into account the various drivers of AMR and the solutions associated with it. In the short term, the focus of communication strategies can be on raising awareness in specific interest groups. It can help in channeling limited resources to achieve specific objectives for raising awareness among these groups, thereby improving the chances of behavior change. The general public can be targeted at a later stage or as a second phase with definite strategies and messages. But, it is erroneous to assume that a higher level of awareness will translate into a positive change in behavior. We propose that behavior change is the final fruit of a long and dynamic process. This process should rest on four pillars: adequate awareness, robust regulatory environment, emotional or material incentives, and an enabling social structure. Unless all these domains are satisfactorily addressed, the communication strategy will not be able to bring about a discernible change in behavior in terms of antibiotic use. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T13:12:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6178b409fa90488aa3b365e184d7ad9f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2249-4863 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T13:12:09Z |
| publishDate | 2019-01-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care |
| spelling | doaj.art-6178b409fa90488aa3b365e184d7ad9f2022-12-21T19:02:51ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Family Medicine and Primary Care2249-48632019-01-01861867187110.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_263_19Communication strategies for improving public awareness on appropriate antibiotic use: Bridging a vital gap for action on antibiotic resistancePhilip MathewSatya SivaramanSujith ChandyAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) is now a global public health issue and is projected to affect the longevity of people and increase health expenditure of countries. Its impact is going to be higher in low-middle income countries as the healthcare systems are suboptimal and ill-equipped to deal with the issue. As antibiotic misuse is the primary driver for AMR, there is an acute need to create awareness among general public regarding antibiotic misuse. This calls for a comprehensive communication strategy, which takes into account the various drivers of AMR and the solutions associated with it. In the short term, the focus of communication strategies can be on raising awareness in specific interest groups. It can help in channeling limited resources to achieve specific objectives for raising awareness among these groups, thereby improving the chances of behavior change. The general public can be targeted at a later stage or as a second phase with definite strategies and messages. But, it is erroneous to assume that a higher level of awareness will translate into a positive change in behavior. We propose that behavior change is the final fruit of a long and dynamic process. This process should rest on four pillars: adequate awareness, robust regulatory environment, emotional or material incentives, and an enabling social structure. Unless all these domains are satisfactorily addressed, the communication strategy will not be able to bring about a discernible change in behavior in terms of antibiotic use.http://www.jfmpc.com/article.asp?issn=2249-4863;year=2019;volume=8;issue=6;spage=1867;epage=1871;aulast=MathewAntibioticsantimicrobial resistancebehavioral changecommunicationhealth system |
| spellingShingle | Philip Mathew Satya Sivaraman Sujith Chandy Communication strategies for improving public awareness on appropriate antibiotic use: Bridging a vital gap for action on antibiotic resistance Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care Antibiotics antimicrobial resistance behavioral change communication health system |
| title | Communication strategies for improving public awareness on appropriate antibiotic use: Bridging a vital gap for action on antibiotic resistance |
| title_full | Communication strategies for improving public awareness on appropriate antibiotic use: Bridging a vital gap for action on antibiotic resistance |
| title_fullStr | Communication strategies for improving public awareness on appropriate antibiotic use: Bridging a vital gap for action on antibiotic resistance |
| title_full_unstemmed | Communication strategies for improving public awareness on appropriate antibiotic use: Bridging a vital gap for action on antibiotic resistance |
| title_short | Communication strategies for improving public awareness on appropriate antibiotic use: Bridging a vital gap for action on antibiotic resistance |
| title_sort | communication strategies for improving public awareness on appropriate antibiotic use bridging a vital gap for action on antibiotic resistance |
| topic | Antibiotics antimicrobial resistance behavioral change communication health system |
| url | http://www.jfmpc.com/article.asp?issn=2249-4863;year=2019;volume=8;issue=6;spage=1867;epage=1871;aulast=Mathew |
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