Easton Phyllis M, Marwick Charis A, Williams Fiona L R, Stringer Kim, McCowan Colin, Davey Peter, Nathwani Dilip
NHS Tayside, Dundee, Scotland, UK.
J Antimicrob Chemother. 2009 Jan;63(1):209-14. doi: 10.1093/jac/dkn447. Epub 2008 Nov 4.
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.
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.
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.
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.
本研究旨在了解使用医疗服务的患者、访客及普通公众对耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌（MRSA）的认知情况，并确定与MRSA相关的公众教育需求。
通过泰赛德地区的15家全科诊所、邓迪市中心的一个青少年健康与信息项目以及邓迪九井医院和医学院的一个健康信息机构招募调查参与者。
共收到1000份回复。大多数人（86%）听说过MRSA，59%知道它是一种细菌，47%意识到健康人可能携带MRSA但无不适症状。那些认识感染过MRSA的人的受访者（32%）表现出更多了解，但如果住院则更担心感染MRSA。对可能治疗方法的了解各不相同，7%的受访者认为MRSA无法治疗。在所有群体中，大多数对MRSA流行率的估计远高于实际流行率。
公众对MRSA及其治疗的认知高于预期，主要通过媒体获得，但在知识方面仍存在相当大的差距。认识感染MRSA的人会使个体总体上更可能了解MRSA，但更可能认为它无法治疗，并且如果住院感染MRSA的担忧程度几乎是其他人的两倍。本次调查结果将为针对普通公众、入院患者及其访客的教育套餐制定提供参考。
