Table 3.
Results of questionnaire used to evaluate the animation intervention and baseline knowledge, beliefs and intentions toward antibiotic acquisitiona
| Time 1 |
6 weeks |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question | Experiment (n = 211) | Control (n = 206) | Experiment (n = 211) | Control (n = 206) |
| Knowledge | ||||
| 1. Some ‘good’ bacteria are important for health. | 4.75 (0.40)*** | 4.48 (0.56) | 4.65 (0.49) | 4.61 (0.47) |
| 2. Antibiotics kill ‘good’ bacteria. | 4.44 (0.79)*** | 3.77 (0.85) | 4.31 (0.78)*** | 4.06 (0.76) |
| 3. Taking antibiotics when not needed can harm health. | 4.56 (0.50)** | 4.41 (0.55) | 4.56 (0.48) | 4.52 (0.48) |
| Attitudes/beliefs | ||||
| 4. I am in favour of asking a doctor or dentist for antibiotics if I think I need them.b | 2.88 (1.25) | 2.90 (1.29) | 2.78 (1.18) | 2.85 (1.23) |
| 5. I expect a doctor or dentist to prescribe antibiotics if I say I need them. | 2.25 (1.32) | 2.27 (1.25) | 2.07 (1.20) | 2.16 (1.15) |
| 6. It is best to avoid taking antibiotics unless recommended by my doctor/dentist. | 4.77 (0.45)** | 4.63 (0.59) | 4.64 (0.61) | 4.60 (0.65) |
| 7. It is important to question your doctor or dentist about whether I really need to take antibiotics. | 4.37 (0.62) | 4.31 (0.74) | 3.85 (0.87) | 3.84 (0.85) |
| 8. It is not a good idea to self-medicate on antibiotics (e.g. using up antibiotics left over from a previous course or someone else’s previous treatment). | 4.64 (0.76) | 4.64 (0.69) | 4.64 (0.72) | 4.64 (0.75) |
| 9. When prescribed antibiotics by my doctor or dentist, it is always a good idea to ensure you use them all as prescribed, even if you feel better. | 4.69 (0.58) | 4.63 (0.62) | 4.57 (0.74) | 4.55 (0.71) |
| 10. Buying antibiotics on the internet in order to treat yourself can be helpful. | 1.50 (0.97) | 1.67 (1.14) | 1.61 (0.97) | 1.54 (0.82) |
| 11. I should not expect a doctor or dentist to prescribe antibiotics if they feel I do not need them. | 4.55 (0.68)* | 4.39 (0.85) | 4.47 (0.73) | 4.45 (0.75) |
| Intentions | ||||
| 12. I will not ask my doctor or dentist for antibiotics if I could do without. | 4.37 (0.84)* | 4.15 (1.00) | 4.21 (0.89) | 4.31 (0.76) |
| 13. I plan to avoid treating myself with antibiotics (e.g., using-up antibiotics left over from a previous course or someone else’s previous treatment). | 4.38 (1.09) | 4.26 (1.13) | 4.43 (0.97)* | 4.20 (1.23) |
| 14. I intend to buy antibiotics on the internet in order to self-medicate. | 1.18 (0.47) | 1.27 (0.59) | 1.25 (0.56) | 1.27 (0.56) |
| 15. I would avoid taking antibiotics unless recommended by my doctor/dentist. | 4.62 (0.69) | 4.50 (0.78) | 4.50 (0.78) | 4.51 (0.74) |
| 16. I will question my doctor or dentist about whether I really need to take antibiotics even if they suggest them. | 3.38 (1.16) | 3.37 (1.11) | 3.48 (1.10) | 3.41 (1.09) |
| 17. When prescribed antibiotics by my doctor or dentist, I will ensure I take them all as prescribed, even if I feel better. | 4.64 (0.64) | 4.50 (0.88) | 4.54 (0.75) | 4.52 (0.76) |
| 18. I will keep any leftover antibiotics I have to use if I need them. | 2.80 (1.35) | 2.78 (1.39) | 1.80 (1.04) | 1.65 (0.90) |
a
Mean (SD) are shown for main measures in the intervention (antibiotic animated film, N = 211) and control (other animated film, N = 206) conditions at both timepoints. Note tests of differences between conditions.
*
P < 0.05,
**
P < 0.01,
***
P < 0.001.
b
All questions used the same response item scoring (strongly disagree to strongly agree) and therefore the low scores demonstrate low levels of intention/cognitions relating to antibiotic use behaviour.