Open AccessRevisiting patient expectations and experiences of antibiotics in an era of antimicrobial resistance: Qualitative study
Author(s) -
Boiko Olga,
Gulliford Martin C.,
Burgess Caroline
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
health expectations
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.314
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1369-7625
pISSN - 1369-6513
DOI - 10.1111/hex.13102
Subject(s) - thematic analysis , context (archaeology) , qualitative research , antimicrobial stewardship , resistance (ecology) , medicine , antibiotic resistance , metropolitan area , focus group , nursing , reflexivity , family medicine , antibiotics , sociology , biology , anthropology , paleontology , social science , ecology , pathology , microbiology and biotechnology
Objective To investigate contemporary patient expectations and experiences of antibiotic prescribing in England. Background Primary care providers’ compliance with patient influences has been identified as a motivation for antibiotic‐prescribing behaviour. Since 2013, there have been concerted efforts to publicize and address the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance. A fresh qualitative insight into patient expectations and experiences is needed. Design Qualitative study using semi‐structured interviews. Setting and participants Two English regions, one an urban metropolitan area and the other a town in rural England. Patients who recently consulted for infections were recruited. The information power approach was used to determine the number of participants, yielding a sample of 31 participants. Main measures Thematic analysis was carried out to analyse the interview data. Results Five themes were identified: beliefs, expectations, experiences of taking antibiotic, experience of antimicrobial resistance and side‐effects, and experiences of consultations. The accounts reflected improved public knowledge: antibiotics were perceived to be much‐needed medicines that should be prescribed when appropriate. The data showed that patients formed expectations of expectations, trying to read the prescribers’ intentions and reflect on the dependency between what prescribers and patients wanted. Patient experiences featured as nuanced and detailed with knowledge of AMR and side‐effects of antibiotics in the context of positive consultation experiences. Conclusions The study highlighted complex interplays between adherence to antibiotics and consuming antibiotics in reflexive, informed ways. Ensuring that present and future patients are informed about potential benefits and harms of antibiotic use will contribute to future antimicrobial stewardship.