PAN-EUROPEAN SURVEY OF PATIENTS ATTITUDES TO ANTIBIOTICS AND ANTIBIOTIC USE

This study was carried out to determine patient perceptions of respira tory tract infections and attitudes to taking antibiotics, thus helpin g doctors to have a better understanding of their patients and their r equirements. Telephone interviews were conducted in the UK, Belgium, F rance, Italy, Spain and Turkey using standardized questionnaires direc ted at patients who had taken an antibiotic or given one to their chil d for a respiratory tract infection within the previous 12 months. App roximately 200 working adults (less than or equal to 55 years), 200 el derly adults (> 55 years) and 200 mothers of children (< 12 years) fro m each country were contacted; in total, 3610 subjects. Pressure on GP s to prescribe antibiotics was highlighted by over 50% of interviewees ' believing that they should be prescribed for most respiratory tract infections. Although interviewees were positive about antibiotics, wit h over 75% judging them to be effective and to speed recovery, some am bivalence was shown. Most patients waited 2 - 3 days before consulting their doctor and over 80% of respondents expected symptoms to improve after 3 days' treatment. This provided a natural watershed for compli ance, with most defaulters stopping after 3 days because they felt bet ter. Second only to fewer side-effects, patients ranked shorter and mo re convenient dosage alongside efficacy as the improvements most sough t in antibiotic therapy, In conclusion, patients regarded antibiotics as important in the treatment of respiratory tract infections, with in terest shown in short-course, once-daily therapy. Doctors, however, ne ed to reassure patients that short courses will eradicate infections a nd have minimal adverse effects on the immune system.