Researchers find that current terminology related to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) fails to effectively communicate the risks to the public. The study reveals that terms like 'AMR' and 'antimicrobial resistance' are poorly remembered and do not evoke sufficient risk perception, highlighting the need for improved public health messaging.
By Vijay Kumar MalesuOct 29 2023Reviewed by Benedette Cuffari, M.Sc. In a recent study published in Communications Medicine, researchers evaluate the effectiveness of current antimicrobial resistance -related terms in public health communication based on their memorability, risk association, and linguistic attributes.
Although there is a need for more effective AMR communication, terms like "antimicrobial resistance" are perceived as abstract and challenging, while in media, "antibiotic resistance" and "superbugs" are most commonly used, and "AMR" is least used. Scholars, however, propose consistently using terms like "drug-resistant infections" for clarity.
To address this, the researchers enforced rigorous data screening and initiated a subsequent survey through Prolific, a platform known for superior data quality. In November 2021, Study 2 enlisted 998 United Kingdom participants from Prolific who resembled the national demographic profile. The list included globally recognized health threats, with terms like "COVID-19," "acquired immunodeficiency syndrome ," and "superbugs." Participants rated two non-health-related terms, inserted as attention checks, based on several criteria and completed a vocabulary test from the WAIS.
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