The world has not taken enough action to address antimicrobial resistance in part due to limited understanding and support from the general public, according to a new report from the nonprofit research charity Wellcome Trust.
For the report, researchers examined existing data and resources to understand how the world is addressing antimicrobial resistance, reviewed media outlets to understand how the issue is being covered, and interviewed health experts on antimicrobial resistance. They also tested the efficacy of various public messaging campaigns on 12,169 people from Japan, India, Thailand, Kenya, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Based on these insights, Wellcome Trust identified five strategies to improve global understanding of antimicrobial resistance and spur action:
1. Explain that antimicrobial resistance is undermining modern medicine to help people understand the current and future scope of the problem.
2. Use simple, straightforward explanations of antimicrobial resistance that articulate humans' role in the issue.
3. Emphasize that antimicrobial resistance is a universal issue that's personally relevant to everyone.
4. Focus on the present issues involving antimicrobial resistance, instead of what could happen in the next five or 10 years.
5. Call for immediate action and frame antimicrobial resistance as a solvable issue.
To view the full report, click here.