Public health messages about antibiotic treatment for respiratory tract infection may increase perceived symptom severity reporting

Lawrence, Claire; Eamonn, Ferguson

Abstract

Public health campaigns to reduce expectations for antibiotic treatment for respiratory tract infections (RTIs) have shown little or no effect on antibiotic prescribing and consumption. We examined whether such messages can increase RTI symptom reporting. Participants (N = 318) received one of four campaign messages, a combination of all four messages or no message. RTI symptoms increased for those who received information emphasizing the ineffectiveness of antibiotic treatment for RTIs. As symptom severity is associated with greater contact with primary healthcare and receiving antibiotic prescriptions, campaigns to encourage antimicrobial stewardship should consider the side effects of antibiotic ineffectiveness messages.

Citation

Lawrence, C., & Eamonn, F. (2019). Public health messages about antibiotic treatment for respiratory tract infection may increase perceived symptom severity reporting. Journal of Health Psychology, 24(5), 623-627. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105316683242

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 12, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Dec 20, 2016
• Publication Date: Apr 1, 2019
• Deposit Date: Feb 13, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 31, 2018
• Journal: Journal of Health Psychology
• Print ISSN: 1359-1053
• Electronic ISSN: 1461-7277
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 24
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 623-627
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105316683242
• Keywords: antimicrobial resistance, health messages, antibiotics
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/828881
• Publisher URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1359105316683242