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. 2020 Oct 29;15(10):e0240471. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240471

Table 1. True/false questionnaire responses from participating children pre-musical and post-musical.

English school (% correct) Scottish school (% correct) Combined (% correct) % difference
Key messages of the musical pre-musical 2 weeks post pre-musical 2 weeks post 6 mths post pre-musical 2 weeks post
TRUE: Bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics 67.5 87.5 75.3 95.5 89.6 71.7 91.9 20.3
TRUE: Antibiotic resistant infections can be life-threatening 75.9 87.5 75.3 91.0 92.5 75.6 89.4 13.9
FALSE: The number of antibiotic resistant infections in the world is increased by careful, prudent use of antibiotics 37.3 65.3 32.0 41.6 49.3 34.4 52.2 17.7
Key messages on use of antibiotics
FALSE: Infections can only get better if treated with antibiotics 47.0 69.4 54.6 65.2 74.6 51.1 67.1 16.0
TRUE: Antibiotics are essential for treating serious bacterial infections 69.9 73.6 83.5 85.4 82.1 77.2 80.1 2.9
FALSE: If I get a headache and runny nose I will definitely need antibiotics 62.7 66.7 88.7 93.3 97.0 76.7 81.4 4.7
TRUE: If I get a fever it is possible to get better without antibiotics. 65.1 73.6 73.2 83.1 80.6 69.4 78.9 9.4
Other concepts referred to in lyrics sung by children
TRUE: Infectious diseases can be caused by bacteria and viruses 90.4 95.8 96.9 95.5 94.0 93.9 95.7 1.8
TRUE: Infectious disease can be spread from person to person 85.5 90.3 79.4 84.3 79.1 82.2 87.0 4.7
FALSE Hand washing does not help in reducing transmission of infectious diseases 71.1 79.2 73.2 80.9 88.1 72.2 80.1 7.9
TRUE: Self-limiting infections can be fought by the body’s natural defences alone 47.0 59.7 63.9 64.0 73.1 56.1 62.1 6.0
FALSE: The invention of antibiotics has shortened the average duration of life 65.1 54.2 68.0 76.4 77.6 66.7 66.5 -0.2
FALSE: Antibiotics can kill viruses 68.7 54.2 68.0 70.8 61.2 68.3 63.4 -5.0
FALSE: You can take antibiotics without a doctor’s prescription 68.7 61.1 81.4 71.9 77.6 75.6 67.1 -8.5
FALSE: Antibiotics are cheap and easy to invent 71.1 76.4 75.3 78.7 85.1 73.3 77.6 4.3
FALSE: Antibiotic resistance means you are resistant to the antibiotics 57.8 51.4 41.2 49.4 37.3 48.9 50.3 1.4
Other concepts referred to in lyrics sung by soloists
FALSE: All bacteria cause disease 78.3 87.5 86.6 92.1 91.0 82.8 90.1 7.3
TRUE: Bacteria can live naturally on/in your body and in the environment 88.0 90.3 96.9 87.6 97.0 92.8 88.8 -4.0
TRUE: Antibiotics were invented less than 100 years ago 63.9 65.3 68.0 74.2 68.7 66.1 70.2 4.1
FALSE: Antibiotics only kill bad bacteria 56.6 70.8 53.6 59.6 62.7 55.0 64.6 9.6
TRUE: Antibiotics can disrupt the bacterial ecosystem in your body 55.4 76.4 64.9 73.0 85.1 60.6 74.5 14.0
Other concepts addressed in learning resources only
TRUE: Certain infections can be prevented by vaccines 63.9 70.8 83.5 84.3 89.6 74.4 78.3 3.8
FALSE: Antibiotic resistant bacteria cannot spread from person to person 62.7 61.1 53.6 64.0 91.0 57.8 62.7 5.0
TRUE: Bacteria can pass the ability to be resistant to other bacteria by sharing genetic information 68.7 62.5 61.9 74.2 97.0 65.0 68.9 3.9
TRUE: Antibiotics can prevent an infection developing following major surgery 57.8 75.0 77.3 78.7 82.1 68.3 77.0 8.7
FALSE: Antibiotics have no side–effects 66.3 68.1 80.4 80.9 62.7 73.9 75.2 1.3
TRUE: Anyone can suffer from an antibiotic resistant infection 78.3 76.4 85.6 82.0 85.1 82.2 79.5 -2.7
FALSE: If I am not given antibiotics by the doctor, this means the doctor does not believe I am sick 69.9 69.4 73.2 73.0 82.0 71.6 71.4 -0.2