Patients' interviews and misuse of antibiotics.

To better evaluate patient contribution in antibiotic use, we questioned 5379 subjects from 9 countries. Antibiotics are perceived as strong, efficient drugs, but they are believed to undermine immunity. Interviewees believe that most respiratory infections, except the common cold, require antibiotic therapy, and 11% of them had to exaggerate their symptoms to get an antibiotic prescription from their physician. About 1 patient in 4 saved part of the antibiotic course for future use. Sixty-nine percent of the patients claimed to have taken the course until the end (United Kingdom, 90%; Thailand, 53%), and 75% claimed that they actually took all the daily doses. In all countries, it was possible to get antibiotics from a pharmacist without a medical prescription. This study shows that patients exert pressure on their doctors to get antibiotics and should allow a design for precise educational action aimed at the public for better control of antibiotic use in the community.