Focus groups on public perceptions of antimicrobial resistance
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Focus groups to understand public perceptions and behaviours of antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance
IRAS ID
267000
Contact name
Andrew Hayward
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
UCLH NHS Foundation Trust, Joint Research Office (JRO)
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 12 days
Research summary
Antibiotics have been a mainstay of medicine since the discovery of the first antibiotic, penicillin, in 1928.The subsequent development of antibiotics has underpinned much of the routine surgery and treatments we receive today – cancer operations and chemotherapy, Caesarean sections, and treatment of mild to serious respiratory diseases, to name a few. Many diseases and surgical procedures would be too dangerous without antibiotics.
However, bacteria naturally develop resistance, and this is accelerated by overuse and mis-use of antibiotics. This means that an increasing number of diseases – caused by resistant bacteria – are untreatable, with potentially fatal consequences. Indeed, around 700,000 deaths occur each year due to antimicrobial resistance globally.
With very few new antibiotics being developed, there needs to be greater understanding on how to control the use of those antibiotics that still work. Changing prescribing practices is one part of the solution, but understanding patient perceptions and behaviours around antibiotic use and the development of antibiotic resistance is equally important.
Groups of particular interest include people living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), who often receive a large number of antibiotics to help control exacerbations; and parents with children under-five, again who receive a large number of antibiotic prescriptions.
I would like to run focus groups with both patient/public groups to stimulate discussion around patients’ use of antibiotics, including when and why would they consult their doctor and potentially seek antibiotics, their views on the importance of antibiotic resistance on the personal level as well as effects on society and availability of drugs that work, if indeed resistance is a consideration at all, among other aspects of antibiotic use.REC name
London - Brent Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/LO/1820
Date of REC Opinion
6 Jan 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion