Animations designed to raise patient awareness of prudent antibiotic use: patient recall of key messages and their immediate effect on patient attitude

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine if patients recalled key messages from antibiotic animations shown on digital displays in General Practice waiting rooms, and if watching them changed patients’ immediate intentions to consult their GP for upper respiratory tract infections, seek antibiotics and self-care. RESULTS: The pre intervention focus group found the animations intergenerational, informative and educational. 3119 patients were observed in 3 GP practices during project team visits; 145 (4.6%) were observed watching the animations; 132 (91%) remembered seeing them; the key messages were retained by 47–55% of patients. Significant positive differences were observed for questions related to intended antibiotic related behaviours. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1186/s13104-017-3048-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.