This statistic displays the distribution of public attitudes towards antibiotic use in England, according to a survey conducted in early 2020. Some 84 percent of respondents stated that they would be pleased if, in case of an infection, they would not have to take antibiotics. A similar share of respondents would also be pleased if their child wouldn't have to take antibiotics for an infection.
Distribution of public attitudes towards antibiotic use in England as of 2020
Characteristic
Definitely true
Probably true
Probably false
Definitely false
Don't know
I would be pleased if the GP said I didn't need antibiotics for an infection*
45%
39%
10%
3%
3%
I would be pleased if the GP said my child didn't need antibiotics for an infection
42%
40%
10%
2%
6%
Antibiotics will always work when you really need them to
7%
32%
34%
24%
3%
Antibiotics will always speed up my recovery, no matter what the infection is
7%
31%
32%
26%
4%
There is nothing society can do to prevent antibiotics from becoming less effective at treating infections
6%
25%
34%
30%
5%
There is nothing I can personally do to prevent antibiotics from becoming less effective at treating infections
9%
30%
34%
23%
4%
If there is any doubt about whether an infection needs to be treated with antibiotics it is better to take them just in case
Note: the survey included 2022 adults (aged 15+,) including 521
black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) participants, and
406 aged 15–25 years olds.
* Categories "definitely not true" and "don't know" are estimated.
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European Commission, & BMJ Open. (April 6, 2022). Distribution of public attitudes towards antibiotic use in England as of 2020 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 19, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1365581/share-of-attitudes-towards-antibiotic-use-in-england/
European Commission, und BMJ Open. "Distribution of public attitudes towards antibiotic use in England as of 2020." Chart. April 6, 2022. Statista. Accessed December 19, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1365581/share-of-attitudes-towards-antibiotic-use-in-england/
European Commission, BMJ Open. (2022). Distribution of public attitudes towards antibiotic use in England as of 2020. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: December 19, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1365581/share-of-attitudes-towards-antibiotic-use-in-england/
European Commission, and BMJ Open. "Distribution of Public Attitudes towards Antibiotic Use in England as of 2020." Statista, Statista Inc., 6 Apr 2022, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1365581/share-of-attitudes-towards-antibiotic-use-in-england/
European Commission & BMJ Open, Distribution of public attitudes towards antibiotic use in England as of 2020 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1365581/share-of-attitudes-towards-antibiotic-use-in-england/ (last visited December 19, 2024)
Distribution of public attitudes towards antibiotic use in England as of 2020 [Graph], European Commission, & BMJ Open, April 6, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1365581/share-of-attitudes-towards-antibiotic-use-in-england/
