Comparison of subjective perception of safe antibiotic use between European Union states

Abstract Objectives Irresponsible antibiotic use is a major problem worldwide. European Union (EU) states implement antibiotic policy which aim is to reduce antibiotic use. Subjective perception of safe antibiotic use (PSAU) can be one of the factors which may affect antibiotic use. This study aimed to measure and to determine progress and tendency of subjective PSAU and its changes in 28 EU states with different implementation of antibiotic policies during the period of 2009–2016. Methods Subjective PSAU was analysed by implementing Barry Buzan’s theory. Data from the Eurobarometer public opinion on ``Antimicrobial Resistance'' were used to establish subjective PSAU index. 28 EU states were ranked according to this index. Results Analysis of variables showing subjective PSAU showed that majority of them increased in 2016. Subjective PSAU indexes were low and did not differ significantly in separate clusters, composed according to achievements in implementation of antibiotic policies, between 2009 and 2016. Increase of subjective PSAU index was observed in 22 countries in 2016. The highest subjective PSAU index belonged to Sweden (59.3%), whereas the lowest index was estimated in Greece (47.7%) in 2016. On the basis of cluster analysis, EU states were divided into five subgroups according to the level of subjective PSAU. Implementation of antibiotic policies did not have significant effect on subjective PSAU ( t  = −0.7, p  = 0.47). Conclusions Despite common EU antibiotic policy high differences in subjective PSAU were observed between EU states. According to our study, antibiotic policy plays a small role in subjective PSAU.