RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Aged care staff and doctors frequently highlight consumers' role in antibiotic treatment decisions. However, few studies include consumers. This study aimed to investigate consumer perspectives on antibiotic use in residential aged care. METHODS: A search across six online databases yielded 3373 studies, with five meeting inclusion criteria. Participant quotes, themes, statistical analyses, and authors' interpretive summaries in the included studies were inductively coded and refined to generate themes. RESULTS: Three themes emerged: perception of benefits and risks of antibiotics; perceived role in antibiotic treatment decision-making and information-communication needs. Consumers held positive attitudes towards antibiotics, did not associate antibiotics with the exclusive treatment of bacterial infections, and had limited awareness of potential risks, such as antibiotic resistance. Studies showed diverse perceptions regarding residents' and their families' involvement in antibiotic treatment decision-making with some residents actively seeking antibiotics and others trusting doctors to decide. Studies also described consumer need for effective provider-consumer communication and information sharing which was affected by contextual barriers such as motivation, preferences, available information resources, and provider attitudes. CONCLUSION: Limited literature is available on consumer perspectives on antibiotic use in aged care. The review highlights that consumer needs are more complex than simply wanting an antibiotic. Antimicrobial stewardship programs should target consumer awareness, beliefs and provider-consumer communication to enhance antibiotic use in aged care.
