Society highlights misunderstanding over antibiotics
“A great deal of misunderstanding surrounding antibiotics and their use” has been found in a survey commissioned by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.
In the MORI survey of 1,010 adults throughout the UK, 26 per cent of
respondents thought that antibiotics could cure
influenza or a cold.
Fourteen per cent of respondents believed that doctors should prescribe
antibiotics if a patient requested them and almost a quarter either did
not know or did not believe that overuse of antibiotics contributed to
the emergence of resistance.
Although 13 per cent of those who had taken antibiotics did not take
them as prescribed, 90 per cent said they had completed their most recent
course of the drugs.
The public also appeared to understand that they should not store previously
unfinished antibiotics for future use and not use other people’s
medicines.
The Society says that the survey is one part of a package it is using
to raise awareness in this area. It adds that a news release promoting
the survey findings will be used by branch public relations officers.
It hopes that this will highlight in local media the message that antibiotics
are not a cure-all medicine and the important role pharmacists have.
As part of its campaign, the Society has published a factsheet on antibiotics
for pharmacists which is distributed with this week’s Journal (PDF 40K).
The sheet gives counselling points for patients prescribed an antibiotic,
outlines ways to combat resistance, and highlights problems with allergies
and interactions. It also summarises cautions to consider when prescribing
antibiotics for children and the elderly. |
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