title: What do Spaniards read about the prudent use of anti-microbial agents and what do they really do?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The prudent use of antibiotics (PUA) is promoted not only by public information campaigns, but also in the printed media and on websites. This study assesses the correspondence between PUA information in the Spanish printed media and on websites and the messages put out by national campaigns. Spaniards' use of antibiotics following the campaigns was also analysed.
  
  
  METHODS
  A two-phase descriptive study was carried out. First, antibiotics-related news in the Spanish printed media (January 2007-May 2009) and institutional and news media websites (March-May 2009) were systematically reviewed using a data collection tool. In addition, a telephone survey on antibiotics-related knowledge and behaviours was carried out with a random sample of 1526 people living in Spain who had recently received medical care.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 29 news items containing nine different messages were identified. All the messages were similar to those promoted by the campaigns. The survey showed that even after the campaigns, relevant gaps in knowledge about the PUA persist, particularly among men (p = .005), those living in rural areas (p = .02) and the elderly (p < .001). Keeping left-over antibiotics was associated with ignorance about the association between antibiotic use and resistance (OR 3.1, 95% CI 2.3-4.2). Also, patients who ask their doctor about drug interactions are less likely to self-medicate (p = .04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The information reaching the Spanish public via the media seems to be similar to the messages transmitted by public information campaigns. Nevertheless, there appears to be considerable room for improvement. Promoting an active role in patients might reduce self-medication.
authors: a Health Psychology Department , Universidad Miguel Hernández , Elche , Spain .
authors: J J
authors: JJ
authors: Mira
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Navarro
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Huttner
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Ortiz
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Pérez-Jover
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Ramón-Pardo
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Rodríguez-Marín
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D054626:Consumer Health Information / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013030:Spain / Q000208:ethnology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents