Perceptions and attitudes about antibiotic resistance in the general public and general practitioners in France

Abstract

Background: During the last 20 years, France has taken important steps to tackle antibiotic resistance. These include national awareness campaigns for the general public, and supporting changes in terms of antibiotic prescription for healthcare practitioners. To prepare the upcoming 2022/2023 campaign, we conducted two surveys to assess (1) the general public's knowledge, attitudes and behaviours regarding antibiotics and (2) the perceptions and practices of general practitioners (GPs).

Methods: Two quantitative telephone surveys were conducted using the same methodology as that used in 2010 by the National Health Insurance Authority. The first was conducted in 2019 in a national representative quota sample of 1204 persons aged over 15 years living in metropolitan France, including an over-sample of 332 parents of children aged six years or under. The second was conducted in 2020 in a national representative sample of 388 GPs.

Results: Twenty-seven percent of respondents reported taking antibiotics during the previous year. Sixty-five percent of GPs declared prescribing fewer antibiotics during the previous five years. However, 33% of GPs reported they often had patients who put high pressure to get antibiotics. The pressure from elderly patients, especially those with comorbidities was notable. Three percent of respondent patients reported putting often pressure on their GP. All respondents expressed total trust in their GP irrespective of whether s/he had prescribed them antibiotics. Half knew that antibiotics act only on bacteria, and 38% said they understood precisely what antibiotic resistance is.

Conclusion: Although antibiotic use is decreasing in France, patient pressure on GPs to prescribe antibiotics is very high. GPs are key ambassadors in reducing antibiotic use. Awareness campaigns must target elderly patients in particular.

Keywords: Antibiotic resistance; Attitudes; General practitioners; General public; Perceptions.

Fig. 1

Evolution of GP prescriptions in the previous five years. Do you feel that you have prescribed fewer antibiotics, more antibiotics, or the same amount of antibiotics over the last five years?

Fig. 2

Patient pressure for antibiotics: Perception of GPs. Have you ever had a patient with a disease or infection who…

Fig. 3

Patients’ pressure for antibiotics. In the past 12 months, have you personally ever visited a doctor with an infection or illness and…

Fig. 4

Patients’ reasons for wanting a prescription, according to GPs

Fig. 5

Patients most in demand of antibiotics, according to GPs

Fig. 6

Tools and sources used by GPs. Do you use the following information sources or tools?

Fig. 7

GPs’ perception of patients’ level of information about antibiotics. Would you say that your patients seem to be well informed about the following (% Yes)

Fig. 8

General public and parents’ with children =  < six years old perceptions of how antibiotics work. Do you think antibiotics work…