Public awareness and individual responsibility needed for judicious use of antibiotics: a qualitative study of public beliefs and perceptions
Abstract Background High consumption of antibiotics has been identified as an important driver for the increasing antibiotic resistance, considered to be one of the greatest threats to public health globally. Simply informing the public about this consequence is insufficient to induce behavioral cha...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-10-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-018-6047-8 |
| _version_ | 1828420860795420672 |
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| author | Mirko Ancillotti Stefan Eriksson Jorien Veldwijk Jessica Nihlén Fahlquist Dan I. Andersson Tove Godskesen |
| author_facet | Mirko Ancillotti Stefan Eriksson Jorien Veldwijk Jessica Nihlén Fahlquist Dan I. Andersson Tove Godskesen |
| author_sort | Mirko Ancillotti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background High consumption of antibiotics has been identified as an important driver for the increasing antibiotic resistance, considered to be one of the greatest threats to public health globally. Simply informing the public about this consequence is insufficient to induce behavioral change. This study explored beliefs and perceptions among Swedes, with the aim of identifying factors promoting and hindering a judicious approach to antibiotics use. The study focused primarily on the medical use of antibiotics, also considering other aspects connected with antibiotic resistance, such as travelling and food consumption. Methods Data were collected through focus group discussions at the end of 2016. Twenty-three Swedes were recruited using an area-based approach and purposive sampling, aiming for as heterogeneous groups as possible regarding gender (13 women, 10 men), age (range 20–81, mean 38), and education level. Interview transcripts were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The Health Belief Model was used as a theoretical framework. Results Antibiotic resistance was identified by participants as a health threat with the potential for terrible consequences. The severity of the problem was perceived more strongly than the actual likelihood of being affected by it. Metaphors such as climate change were abundantly employed to describe antibiotic resistance as a slowly emerging problem. There was a tension between individual (egoistic) and collective (altruistic) reasons for engaging in judicious behavior. The individual effort needed and antibiotics overprescribing were considered major barriers to such behavior. In their discussions, participants stressed the need for empowerment, achieved through good health communication from authorities and family physicians. Conclusions Knowledge about antibiotic consumption and resistance, as well as values such as altruism and trust in the health care system, has significant influence on both perceptions of individual responsibility and on behavior. This suggests that these factors should be emphasized in health education and health promotion. To instead frame antibiotic resistance as a slowly emerging disaster, risks diminish the public perception of being susceptible to it. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T15:21:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f25c5c2d703e4303a30b79b22660159c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T15:21:00Z |
| publishDate | 2018-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-f25c5c2d703e4303a30b79b22660159c2022-12-22T01:43:42ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582018-10-011811910.1186/s12889-018-6047-8Public awareness and individual responsibility needed for judicious use of antibiotics: a qualitative study of public beliefs and perceptionsMirko Ancillotti0Stefan Eriksson1Jorien Veldwijk2Jessica Nihlén Fahlquist3Dan I. Andersson4Tove Godskesen5Centre for Research Ethics & Bioethics, Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala UniversityCentre for Research Ethics & Bioethics, Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala UniversityCentre for Research Ethics & Bioethics, Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala UniversityCentre for Research Ethics & Bioethics, Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala UniversityDepartment of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala UniversityCentre for Research Ethics & Bioethics, Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala UniversityAbstract Background High consumption of antibiotics has been identified as an important driver for the increasing antibiotic resistance, considered to be one of the greatest threats to public health globally. Simply informing the public about this consequence is insufficient to induce behavioral change. This study explored beliefs and perceptions among Swedes, with the aim of identifying factors promoting and hindering a judicious approach to antibiotics use. The study focused primarily on the medical use of antibiotics, also considering other aspects connected with antibiotic resistance, such as travelling and food consumption. Methods Data were collected through focus group discussions at the end of 2016. Twenty-three Swedes were recruited using an area-based approach and purposive sampling, aiming for as heterogeneous groups as possible regarding gender (13 women, 10 men), age (range 20–81, mean 38), and education level. Interview transcripts were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The Health Belief Model was used as a theoretical framework. Results Antibiotic resistance was identified by participants as a health threat with the potential for terrible consequences. The severity of the problem was perceived more strongly than the actual likelihood of being affected by it. Metaphors such as climate change were abundantly employed to describe antibiotic resistance as a slowly emerging problem. There was a tension between individual (egoistic) and collective (altruistic) reasons for engaging in judicious behavior. The individual effort needed and antibiotics overprescribing were considered major barriers to such behavior. In their discussions, participants stressed the need for empowerment, achieved through good health communication from authorities and family physicians. Conclusions Knowledge about antibiotic consumption and resistance, as well as values such as altruism and trust in the health care system, has significant influence on both perceptions of individual responsibility and on behavior. This suggests that these factors should be emphasized in health education and health promotion. To instead frame antibiotic resistance as a slowly emerging disaster, risks diminish the public perception of being susceptible to it.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-018-6047-8Antibiotic resistanceHealth belief modelHealth behaviorQualitative research |
| spellingShingle | Mirko Ancillotti Stefan Eriksson Jorien Veldwijk Jessica Nihlén Fahlquist Dan I. Andersson Tove Godskesen Public awareness and individual responsibility needed for judicious use of antibiotics: a qualitative study of public beliefs and perceptions BMC Public Health Antibiotic resistance Health belief model Health behavior Qualitative research |
| title | Public awareness and individual responsibility needed for judicious use of antibiotics: a qualitative study of public beliefs and perceptions |
| title_full | Public awareness and individual responsibility needed for judicious use of antibiotics: a qualitative study of public beliefs and perceptions |
| title_fullStr | Public awareness and individual responsibility needed for judicious use of antibiotics: a qualitative study of public beliefs and perceptions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Public awareness and individual responsibility needed for judicious use of antibiotics: a qualitative study of public beliefs and perceptions |
| title_short | Public awareness and individual responsibility needed for judicious use of antibiotics: a qualitative study of public beliefs and perceptions |
| title_sort | public awareness and individual responsibility needed for judicious use of antibiotics a qualitative study of public beliefs and perceptions |
| topic | Antibiotic resistance Health belief model Health behavior Qualitative research |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-018-6047-8 |
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