Combatting antibiotic resistance: health literacy insights from young adults in the United Kingdom

Rim Wazni

College of Nursing, Midwifery and Healthcare

Supervisors:

Professor Heather Loveday

College of Nursing, Midwifery and Healthcare

Professor Hermine Mkrtchyan

School of Medicine and Biosciences

Background

Antibiotic resistance is escalating into a significant challenge, worsened by antibiotic misuse due to poor health literacy. This research aims to improve young adults’ understanding and attitude towards antibiotic use. It will assess how health literacy influences behavior, identify misconceptions, and assess barriers to proper use. The goal is to gather insights to improve health literacy and appropriate antibiotic use.

Methods

The study adopts a sequential mixed-methods, exploratory design. Using qualitative descriptive methods, 14 university students aged 18-25 from non-healthcare disciplines in London were interviewed. These interviews explored participants’ understanding of antibiotic use and resistance and attitudes towards taking antibiotics. The insights from these interviews will be used to inform the quantitative phase and the development of a survey tool.

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Results

Analysis of the interviews created four themes: Enhancing Health Information Accessibility and Comprehension which highlighted difficulty with complex terms leading to inappropriate antibiotic use and disposal. Understanding and Managing Antibiotic Use suggested varied adherence to guidelines, indicating communication and management gaps. Antibiotic Prescription Dynamics points to trust issues due to self-medication. Antibiotic Resistance Education and Awareness reveals a lack of awareness about antibiotic resistance and its consequences.

Conclusion

The findings highlight the need to improve health literacy and antibiotic usage. The next phase of the research will build on these findings and explore the potential of targeted education, leveraging social media for awareness, and improving provider communication.