Patients’ health literacy

Patients’ knowledge and understanding about infections and antibiotics varies considerably. 

A regular national survey in England tracks public understanding and attitudes, and has consistently found that participants from social grades D/E, BAME backgrounds, those with less education and younger groups had significantly less understanding about antibiotics and antibiotic resistance. Rates of antibiotic use in the UK are higher in areas of deprivation and the survey findings have important implications for pharmacy teams in less advantaged areas.

The most recent (2020) survey found that most people had a positive attitude to avoiding antibiotic use with over four-fifths agreeing they would be pleased if their GP said they or their child did not need an antibiotic. Those from social grades D/E, BAME participants and younger groups were significantly less likely to agree. 

Trust in health professionals about the need for antibiotics remained high but one in five people said they would challenge a GP’s decision not to prescribe antibiotics and those significantly more likely to challenge were BAME participants and people on lower incomes. 

These findings suggest that pharmacists working in disadvantaged areas may be more likely to encounter resistance when they do not recommend an antibiotic. Another survey finding of particular relevance for pharmacists is that 68 per cent of participants across all demographic groups incorrectly said that ‘antibiotics work for the majority of ear infections’.