The English antibiotic awareness campaigns: did they change the public's knowledge of and attitudes to antibiotic use?

Objectives: To determine the effect of the 2008 English public antibiotic campaigns. Conclusions: There is little evidence that the 2008 public antibiotic campaigns were effective. The use and visibility of future campaign materials needs auditing. A carefully planned approach that targets the public in GP waiting rooms and through clinicians in consultations may be a more effective way of improving prudent antibiotic use.