General Perceptions and Knowledge of Antibiotic Resistance and Antibiotic Use Behavior: A Cross-Sectional Survey of US Adults

Caitlin M McCracken; Kendall J Tucker; Gregory B Tallman; Haley K Holmer; Brie N Noble; Jessina C McGregor

doi:10.3390/antibiotics12040672

General Perceptions and Knowledge of Antibiotic Resistance and Antibiotic Use Behavior: A Cross-Sectional Survey of US Adults

Antibiotics (Basel). 2023 Mar 29;12(4):672. doi: 10.3390/antibiotics12040672.

Authors

Caitlin M McCracken¹, Kendall J Tucker², Gregory B Tallman³, Haley K Holmer⁴, Brie N Noble¹, Jessina C McGregor^{1

4}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pharmacy Practice, Oregon State University College of Pharmacy, Portland, OR 97331, USA.
² Department of Pharmacy Practice, Nesbitt School of Pharmacy, Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766, USA.
³ School of Pharmacy, Pacific University, Hillsboro, OR 97123, USA.
⁴ School of Public Health, Oregon Health & Science University-Portland State University, Portland, OR 97201, USA.

Abstract

This study aimed to assess understanding of antibiotic resistance and evaluate antibiotic use themes among the general public. In March 2018, respondents that were ≥21 years old and residing in the United States were recruited from ResearchMatch.org and surveyed to collect data on respondent expectations, knowledge, and opinions regarding prescribing antibiotics and antibiotic resistance. Content analysis was used to code open-ended definitions of antibiotic resistance into central themes. Chi-square tests were used to assess differences between the definitions of antibiotic resistance and antibiotic use. Among the 657 respondents, nearly all (99%) had taken an antibiotic previously. When asked to define antibiotic resistance, the definitions provided were inductively coded into six central themes: 35% bacteria adaptation, 22% misuse/overuse, 22% resistant bacteria, 10% antibiotic ineffectiveness, 7% body immunity, and 3% provided an incorrect definition with no consistent theme. Themes that were identified in respondent definitions of resistance significantly differed between those who reported having shared an antibiotic versus those who had not (p = 0.03). Public health campaigns remain a central component in the fight to combat antibiotic resistance. Future campaigns should address the public's understanding of antibiotic resistance and modifiable behaviors that may contribute to resistance.

Keywords: antibiotic resistance; antibiotic use behavior; public health.

Grants and funding

The project described was supported by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), National Institutes of Health (grant no. UL1TR002369). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH.