Sense of personal agency towards mitigating the threat of antibiotic resistance: a focus group study with parents of children under 5 years old, conducted mid-pandemic [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations, 1 not approved]
Background Most antibiotic prescribing occurs in primary care, largely in children under 5 years old, and often inappropriately. This study investigated knowledge, attitudes and behaviours (KABs) towards common childhood infections, antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), among parents of...
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F1000 Research Ltd
2025-02-01
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| Online Access: | https://f1000research.com/articles/11-1487/v2 |
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| author | Laura Shallcross Andrew Hayward Michael Wilson Gill Forbes Becky McCall |
| author_facet | Laura Shallcross Andrew Hayward Michael Wilson Gill Forbes Becky McCall |
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| description | Background Most antibiotic prescribing occurs in primary care, largely in children under 5 years old, and often inappropriately. This study investigated knowledge, attitudes and behaviours (KABs) towards common childhood infections, antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), among parents of children under 5 years old. The concept of individual sacrifice (forgoing antibiotics—a selective pressure for AMR) to mitigate future societal risk of AMR and how the COVID-19 pandemic shaped views were explored. Methods This qualitative study included three, one-hour, virtual focus groups with mothers from parenting networks across inner-city London and semi-rural England, held mid-pandemic (2020). All had ≥1 child <5 years old. The Framework Method of analysis was used. Parents’ KABs towards antibiotic use/AMR formed the primary outcome, with emphases on their sense of personal agency towards mitigating the threat of AMR for society, plus how the pandemic influenced views on infection prevention and care. Results Fourteen mothers (groups of six, four, four) participated, with mixed ethnicities, education and employment status. Parent perceptions of their individual child’s immediate need for antibiotics outweighed concerns for any possible future threat of AMR to society. Four key themes were identified: uncertainty around symptoms; impact of socio-cultural background on KAB; poor understanding of how antibiotics/AMR work; and opportunities within the doctor–patient dialogue to shape mindset around AMR. The pandemic influenced views across themes. Conclusion Parents prioritising their child’s perceived, immediate, individual ‘need’ for antibiotics over any future impact of AMR on society highlights a continuing need to engage parents in how to mitigate AMR through appropriate antibiotic use, reducing threat to both their child and others. Framing point-of-care dialogue around antibiotic use/AMR in the present (versus future), drawing on pandemic insights and tailoring according to nuanced socio-cultural influences, may encourage a greater sense of personal agency towards taking action to mitigate antibiotic resistance. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2af516df0f114a58a0b3bd4f2d72ee17 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2046-1402 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-2af516df0f114a58a0b3bd4f2d72ee172025-08-20T02:21:34ZengF1000 Research LtdF1000Research2046-14022025-02-011110.12688/f1000research.128550.2178221Sense of personal agency towards mitigating the threat of antibiotic resistance: a focus group study with parents of children under 5 years old, conducted mid-pandemic [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations, 1 not approved]Laura Shallcross0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1713-2555Andrew Hayward1Michael Wilson2Gill Forbes3Becky McCall4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6628-374XInstitute of Health Informatics,, University College London,, London, UKInstitute of Epidemiology and Health Care,, University College London,, London, UKSchool of Design and Creative Arts,, Loughborough University,, Loughborough, UKCentre for Behaviour Change,, University College London,, London, UKInstitute of Health Informatics,, University College London,, London, UKBackground Most antibiotic prescribing occurs in primary care, largely in children under 5 years old, and often inappropriately. This study investigated knowledge, attitudes and behaviours (KABs) towards common childhood infections, antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), among parents of children under 5 years old. The concept of individual sacrifice (forgoing antibiotics—a selective pressure for AMR) to mitigate future societal risk of AMR and how the COVID-19 pandemic shaped views were explored. Methods This qualitative study included three, one-hour, virtual focus groups with mothers from parenting networks across inner-city London and semi-rural England, held mid-pandemic (2020). All had ≥1 child <5 years old. The Framework Method of analysis was used. Parents’ KABs towards antibiotic use/AMR formed the primary outcome, with emphases on their sense of personal agency towards mitigating the threat of AMR for society, plus how the pandemic influenced views on infection prevention and care. Results Fourteen mothers (groups of six, four, four) participated, with mixed ethnicities, education and employment status. Parent perceptions of their individual child’s immediate need for antibiotics outweighed concerns for any possible future threat of AMR to society. Four key themes were identified: uncertainty around symptoms; impact of socio-cultural background on KAB; poor understanding of how antibiotics/AMR work; and opportunities within the doctor–patient dialogue to shape mindset around AMR. The pandemic influenced views across themes. Conclusion Parents prioritising their child’s perceived, immediate, individual ‘need’ for antibiotics over any future impact of AMR on society highlights a continuing need to engage parents in how to mitigate AMR through appropriate antibiotic use, reducing threat to both their child and others. Framing point-of-care dialogue around antibiotic use/AMR in the present (versus future), drawing on pandemic insights and tailoring according to nuanced socio-cultural influences, may encourage a greater sense of personal agency towards taking action to mitigate antibiotic resistance.https://f1000research.com/articles/11-1487/v2antibiotic*; 'antibiotic resistance'; parent*; 'focus group'; GP; COVID prevention infection.eng |
| spellingShingle | Laura Shallcross Andrew Hayward Michael Wilson Gill Forbes Becky McCall Sense of personal agency towards mitigating the threat of antibiotic resistance: a focus group study with parents of children under 5 years old, conducted mid-pandemic [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations, 1 not approved] F1000Research antibiotic*; 'antibiotic resistance'; parent*; 'focus group'; GP; COVID prevention infection. eng |
| title | Sense of personal agency towards mitigating the threat of antibiotic resistance: a focus group study with parents of children under 5 years old, conducted mid-pandemic [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations, 1 not approved] |
| title_full | Sense of personal agency towards mitigating the threat of antibiotic resistance: a focus group study with parents of children under 5 years old, conducted mid-pandemic [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations, 1 not approved] |
| title_fullStr | Sense of personal agency towards mitigating the threat of antibiotic resistance: a focus group study with parents of children under 5 years old, conducted mid-pandemic [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations, 1 not approved] |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sense of personal agency towards mitigating the threat of antibiotic resistance: a focus group study with parents of children under 5 years old, conducted mid-pandemic [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations, 1 not approved] |
| title_short | Sense of personal agency towards mitigating the threat of antibiotic resistance: a focus group study with parents of children under 5 years old, conducted mid-pandemic [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations, 1 not approved] |
| title_sort | sense of personal agency towards mitigating the threat of antibiotic resistance a focus group study with parents of children under 5 years old conducted mid pandemic version 2 peer review 1 approved 2 approved with reservations 1 not approved |
| topic | antibiotic*; 'antibiotic resistance'; parent*; 'focus group'; GP; COVID prevention infection. eng |
| url | https://f1000research.com/articles/11-1487/v2 |
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