September
1998 National
Attitudes towards Antibiotic
Treatment of Colds and Flu
Summary of Consumer Health
Information Centre survey
(Sept 1998)
The following
survey results were obtained
through a Gallup poll conducted
in the weeks after the Government's
recommendations on restriction
of antibiotic use for colds
and flu.
One in four of the population
of England, Scotland and
Wales (26%) ask their doctor
for antibiotics when they
have a bad cold or flu.
Of those asking their
doctor for antibiotics,
those in age group 16-24
are more likely to ask when
they have a bad cold or
when they have flu.
Results suggest that
the request for antibiotics
to treat a bad cold
or flu is not due to
a lack of confidence
in self-medication but
over half (55%) said
this was because they
wanted to get better
quicker
a fifth (21%) said
this because they believe
that antibiotics work
The motivation also varied
with age
the 16-24 age group
are more likely to ask
for antibiotics because
they want to get better
quicker (72%)
the 65+ age group
are most likely to ask
because they believe
antibiotics work (29%)
Those in social group
A/B are more likely to
ask for antibiotics when
they have a bad cold than
those in groups C2 and
D/E.
Key regional breakdowns:
people in Greater London
are more likely to ask
for antibiotics when they
have a bad cold (26%)
than those in the rest
of England, Scotland and
Wales (average 19%).
people in SW and Wales
are less likely to ask
for antibiotics when they
have flu (15%) than those
in rest of England and
Scotland (average 20%).
Notes for editors
The Gallup Organization
conducted 2054 telephone interviews
with a representative sample
of British adults aged 16+ between
the 18th and 23rd of September
1998. Quotas were set for region
and the sample was weighted
to the known profile of all
adults. There is a margin of
error of 2.2%.
For further information please contact:
Karen Kelshaw Consumer Health Information Centre
tel: 020 7421 9314
fax: 020 7421 9317
email: karen.kelshaw@pagb.co.uk
Pam Prentice Doctor Patient Partnership
tel: 020 7383 6144
out of office hours: 0780 3399826
email: pprentice@bma.org.uk
Marianne Smith Doctor Patient Partnership
tel 020 7383 6828
fax: 020 7383 6966
email: msmith@bma.org.uk
