The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Medicinaregatan 3, SE 413 90, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Centre for Antibiotic Resistance Research (CARe) and Department of Philosophy, Linguistics and Theory of Science, University of Gothenburg, Renströmsgatan 6, SE 41255, Gothenburg, Sweden.
BMC Public Health. 2022 Jul 28;22(1):1439. doi: 10.1186/s12889-022-13855-w.
Antibiotic resistance is a complex phenomenon heavily influenced by social, cultural, behavioural, and economic factors that lead to the misuse, overuse and abuse of antibiotics. Recent research has highlighted the role that norms and values can play for behaviours that contribute to resistance development, and for addressing such behaviours. Despite comparatively high antibiotic consumption in Greece, both at the community and healthcare level, Greeks have been shown to be relatively aware of the connection between antibiotic overuse and antibiotic resistance. This suggests that Greeks' non-judicious use cannot simply be explained by lack of awareness but may relate to other factors specific to Greek society. The present study aimed to explore attitudes, perceived norms, and values in relation to antibiotics, in order to improve understanding of socio-cultural determinants of antibiotic resistance in Greece.
Data were collected through online focus group discussions in 2021. Twenty Greeks were recruited through purposive sampling, aiming for as heterogeneous groups as possible regarding gender (12 women, 8 men), age (range 21-55, mean 33), and education level. Interview transcripts were analysed inductively using thematic content analysis.
Participants considered antibiotic overconsumption as a consolidated habit influenced by ease of access, social expectations and, more generally, cultural practices. While critical of such norms and practices, participants opposed stewardship measures that would prioritize the societal interest in maintaining antibiotic effectiveness over individual needs. Participants considered responsibility for antibiotic resistance to be shared by the whole society, but the role of government actors and health professionals as well as of food producers was emphasized. Notably, scepticism about the prospect of effectively managing antibiotic resistance in Greece was commonly expressed.
The study makes explicit attitudes, perceived norms and values that, besides limited awareness, may contribute to non-judicious antibiotic use in Greece. These socio-cultural determinants of antibiotic resistance warrant further research and should be considered when designing measures aimed to mitigate this problem.
抗生素耐药性是一种复杂的现象，受社会、文化、行为和经济因素的影响很大，这些因素导致抗生素的误用、过度使用和滥用。最近的研究强调了规范和价值观在导致耐药性发展的行为以及解决这些行为方面的作用。尽管希腊的社区和医疗保健层面的抗生素消耗量都相对较高，但研究表明，希腊人相对意识到抗生素过度使用与抗生素耐药性之间的联系。这表明，希腊人不合理地使用抗生素并不能简单地归因于缺乏意识，而可能与希腊社会特有的其他因素有关。本研究旨在探讨与抗生素相关的态度、感知规范和价值观，以增进对希腊社会抗生素耐药性的社会文化决定因素的理解。
数据通过 2021 年的在线焦点小组讨论收集。通过目的抽样招募了 20 名希腊人，他们在性别（12 名女性，8 名男性）、年龄（21-55 岁，平均 33 岁）和教育水平方面尽可能多样化。使用主题内容分析对访谈记录进行归纳分析。
参与者认为抗生素过度消费是一种受获取便利性、社会期望以及更普遍的文化实践影响的既定习惯。尽管对这些规范和实践持批评态度，但参与者反对将维持抗生素有效性的社会利益置于个人需求之上的管理措施。参与者认为，全社会都应对抗生素耐药性负责，但强调了政府行为者和卫生专业人员以及食品生产者的作用。值得注意的是，普遍对希腊有效管理抗生素耐药性的前景表示怀疑。
该研究明确了态度、感知规范和价值观，这些因素除了有限的意识外，可能导致希腊不合理地使用抗生素。这些抗生素耐药性的社会文化决定因素需要进一步研究，在设计旨在缓解这一问题的措施时应予以考虑。
