Improper Use of Antibiotics,U.S. Adult Population Mid-2005 through Mid-2006,November 2006,Table of Contents,Section Page Objectives & Methodology 2 Summary of Findings 5 Improper Procurement of Antibiotics 10 General Use of Antibiotics 19 Concerns about Antibiotics 30 Health Care Practices 38 Respondent Demographics 42,Objectives & Methodology,Improper Use of Antibiotics 3,This research was undertaken to determine how U.S. adults use antibiotics and, in particular, how the antibiotics are procured.,Specific objectives included: Determine the proportion of U.S. adults who have used antibiotics in the past 12 months Determine the prevalence of improper means of procuring antibiotics Asking a health care provider for antibiotics Obtaining antibiotics from a source other than a health care provider Obtaining a prescription without an office visit Identify practices in using antibiotics and other medications Identify segments of the population who are most likely to improperly procure or use antibiotics and other medications Explore perceptions of antibiotics Ability to correctly identify antibiotics Ability to identify situations in which antibiotics can be effective Awareness of antibiotic resistance Concerns regarding antibiotics, as compared to concerns about other health issues,Objectives,Improper Use of Antibiotics 4,919 U.S. adults were interviewed by telephone for this research.,The sample for the survey consisted of a representative cross-section of U.S. adults, plus an over-sampling of Hispanic and African American adults, who were under-represented in initial interviewing. People who were contacted were eligible to complete the survey if they had taken an antibiotic to treat an illness within the previous 12 months. For this reason, survey results can only be considered representative of U.S. adults who have recently taken antibiotics, and not all U.S. adults. Some demographic information was obtained from those who were not eligible for the survey as input to the weighting of the survey results. Interviewing was conducted between September 6 and November 9, 2006. Interviews averaged 17 minutes in length. Respondents were told that the survey was sponsored by a non-profit public health organization, and APUA was named if the respondent asked. A two-step process was used to appropriately weight the survey responses to reflect the U.S. population by gender, ethnicity, and age. Population statistics were take from the U.S. Census Bureaus 2005 Population Estimates. First, respondents who completed the screening questions (whether or not they completed the survey) were weighted to reflect the U.S. adult population. The weighted screener responses were used to determine the distribution of adults who use antibiotics. The survey respondents were weighted to reflect the distribution of adults who use antibiotics. Differences that are noted between segments are statistically significant at the 95% confidence level. When response predictors are listed, the predictors are listed in order of greatest impact as determined through a decision tree analysis.,Methodology,Summary of Findings,Improper Use of Antibiotics 6,One-quarter of recent antibiotic users may have obtained antibiotics by a means that is considered improper.,27% of U.S. adults who have used antibiotics within the past year report that they have used an improper means to obtain an antibiotic. Requested an antibiotic from a health care provider: 14% Obtained an antibiotic from a source other than a health care provider: 7% Obtained a prescription over the phone without an office visit: 12% Since many people are unable to correctly identify antibiotics, these percentages may be inaccurate, most likely somewhat overstated. Of the 74 people who requested an antibiotic from a health care provider and were able to name the medication, 6 listed a medication that was not an antibiotic. Of the 35 respondents who obtained an antibiotic from someone else and were able to name the medication, 15 listed a medication that was not an antibiotic. Only 33% of respondents were able to correctly identify five medications as either antibiotics or not antibiotics. 10% identified either Tylenol or Robitussin as an antibiotic. Demographic profiles differ for the three types of improper procurement. People requesting an antibiotic from a health care provider tend to be very highly educated and have a high income ($over 100,000), or else be Medicaid recipients. Those who obtained an antibiotic from a source other than a health care provider were more likely to have no health insurance and no established relationship with a health care provider, often lower income minorities living in urban areas. People obtaining antibiotics over the phone are more likely to be middle income or higher (over $50,000 ), or, if they had lower incomes, to live in a suburban or rural area.,Summary of Findings,Improper Use of Antibiotics 7,Overall, 33% of adults have used antibiotics within the past year, and many of them have not used them as prescribed.,