Understanding media publics and the antimicrobial resistance crisis

Davis, M., Whittaker, A., Lindgren, M., Djerf-Pierre, M., Manderson, L. and Flowers, P. (2018) Understanding media publics and the antimicrobial resistance crisis. Global Public Health, 13(9), pp. 1158-1168. (doi: 10.1080/17441692.2017.1336248) (PMID:28594309)

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) imperils health for people across the world. This enormous challenge is being met with the rationalisation of prescription, dispensing and consumption of antimicrobials in clinical settings and in the everyday lives of members of the general population. Individuals need to be reached outside clinical settings to prepare them for the necessary changes to the pharmaceutical management of infections; efforts that depend on media and communications and, therefore, how the AMR message is mediated, received and applied. In 2016, the UK Review on Antimicrobial Resistance called on governments to support intense, worldwide media activity to promote public awareness and to further efforts to rationalise the use of antimicrobial pharmaceuticals. In this article, we consider this communications challenge in light of contemporary currents of thought on media publics, including: the tendency of health communications to cast experts and lay individuals in opposition; the blaming of individuals who appear to ‘resist’ expert advice; the challenges presented by negative stories of AMR and their circulation in public life, and; the problems of public trust tied to the construction and mediation of expert knowledge on the effective management of AMR.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This study was supported in part by a Discovery Project grant from the Australian Research Council [grant number DP170100937].
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Flowers, Professor Paul
• Authors: Davis, M., Whittaker, A., Lindgren, M., Djerf-Pierre, M., Manderson, L., and Flowers, P.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > MRC/CSO SPHSU
• Journal Name: Global Public Health
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• ISSN: 1744-1692
• ISSN (Online): 1744-1706
• Published Online: 08 June 2017
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2017 Informa UK Limited
• First Published: First published in Global Public Health 13(9):1158-1168
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher