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Online health information and public knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours regarding antibiotics in the UK: Multiple regression analysis of Wellcome Monitor and Eurobarometer Data

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  • Alistair Anderson

Abstract

Background: Antimicrobial resistance is a global public health problem with some socially patterned drivers. The objective of the study was to investigate associations between use of and trust in the Internet as a source of health-related information and the public’s knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours regarding antibiotics. Methods: Two representative cross-sectional surveys (the 2015 Wellcome Monitor (n = 1524) and UK segment (n = 1330) of the 2016 Eurobarometer 85.1) covering knowledge about antibiotics and antibiotic consumption were analysed. Knowledge, attitude, and behaviour variables were analysed using regression in relation to demographic characteristics and use and trust in the Internet as a source of information. Results: The key findings of the analysis are that both use of the Internet as a source of medical research information (variable from the Wellcome Monitor) and trust in the Internet as a source of information about antibiotics (variable from the Eurobarometer) were independently and positively associated with knowledge, attitude, and behaviour regarding antibiotics. Additionally, knowledge about antibiotics was positively associated with behaviour with antibiotics (Wellcome Monitor) and attitude towards finishing antibiotic prescriptions (Eurobarometer). Higher levels of education were associated with better knowledge about antibiotics in both datasets. Older age was positively associated with behaviour and attitude regarding antibiotic consumption. Conclusions: The Internet is a resource for disseminating quality health information that has the potential to improve stewardship of antibiotics in the community. This study suggests that members of the UK public that use the Internet as a source of health-related information are more likely to be better informed about, and be more responsible with, antibiotics. This mode of information dissemination should be capitalised on to improve antimicrobial stewardship, and further research should examine what the most effective online information sources are in the UK and to what extent their association with behaviour is causal.

Suggested Citation

  • Alistair Anderson, 2018. "Online health information and public knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours regarding antibiotics in the UK: Multiple regression analysis of Wellcome Monitor and Eurobarometer Data," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(10), pages 1-15, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0204878
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0204878
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mick P. Couper & Eleanor Singer & Carrie A. Levin & Floyd J. Fowler Jr. & Angela Fagerlin & Brian J. Zikmund-Fisher, 2010. "Use of the Internet and Ratings of Information Sources for Medical Decisions: Results from the DECISIONS Survey," Medical Decision Making, , vol. 30(5_suppl), pages 106-114, September.
    2. Olga J Horvat & Ana D Tomas & Milica M Paut Kusturica & Alisa V Savkov & Dragica U Bukumirić & Zdenko S Tomić & Ana J Sabo, 2017. "Is the level of knowledge a predictor of rational antibiotic use in Serbia?," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(7), pages 1-13, July.
    3. Hui Pan & Binglin Cui & Dangui Zhang & Jeremy Farrar & Frieda Law & William Ba-Thein, 2012. "Prior Knowledge, Older Age, and Higher Allowance Are Risk Factors for Self-Medication with Antibiotics among University Students in Southern China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(7), pages 1-8, July.
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