title: A survey on public knowledge and perceptions of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to establish knowledge and understanding of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) among patients, visitors and members of the general public accessing health services and to identify public education needs in relation to MRSA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Survey participants were recruited through 15 general practice surgeries across Tayside and through a young people's health and information project in Dundee city centre and at a health information facility at Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 1000 responses. The majority (86%) had heard of MRSA, 59% knew that it is a bacterium and 47% were aware that a healthy person can have MRSA without feeling ill. Those who knew someone who had had MRSA (32%) showed greater knowledge but greater worry about getting MRSA if admitted to hospital. Knowledge of possible treatments was variable, with 7% of respondents thinking of MRSA as untreatable. Across all groups, most estimates of MRSA prevalence were much higher than actual prevalence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Public awareness of MRSA and its treatment was higher than expected, mainly gained through the media, but with considerable gaps in knowledge. Knowing someone with MRSA makes the individual more likely to be knowledgeable about MRSA in general, but more likely to think it is untreatable and almost twice as likely to be worried about contracting MRSA if admitted to hospital. The findings of this survey will inform the development of educational packages for the general public, as well as patients entering hospital and their visitors.
authors.affiliation: NHS Tayside, Dundee, Scotland, UK. phyllis.easton@nhs.net
authors.forename: Phyllis M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Easton
authors.forename: Charis A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Marwick
authors.forename: Fiona L R
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stringer
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McCowan
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Davey
authors.forename: Dilip
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nathwani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001364:Awareness; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; D008875:Middle Aged; D012606:Scotland; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires