Antibiotic expectations
April 19, 2012
ONE in five Australians have an
expectation that their GP will
prescribe antibiotics to treat their
coughs and colds, according to NPS
research.
The study looked at responses
from 1,013 Australians and found
that four out of five also expect a
prescription from their GP when
they have an ear, nose, throat or
chest infection, with 51% saying
they would ask their GP for one.
6% of respondents also said they
would ask for an antibiotic to treat
their child’s cough or cold, with
fathers more likely to ask than
mothers (22% vs 9%).
Shockingly only 40% of respondents
knew that antibiotics should not be
taken for viruses, whilst 40% did
not know that taking antibiotics
when they are not needed
contributes to antibiotic resistance.
To combat these misconceptions,
NPS has launched a Facebook page
which encourages Aussies to
become antibiotic ‘resistance
fighters’.
See www.facebook.com/
NPSMedicinewise.
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