Table 3 Belief and attitude scores regarding the judicious use of antibiotics among physicians and pharmacists pre- and post-intervention^a

Physicians should never prescribe antibiotics when they are unnecessary

4.8 ± 0.7

4.7 ± 0.7

4.5 ± 1.1

4.6 ± 1.0

Too many people are treated with antibiotics when not necessary

3.5 ± 1.5

3.3 ± 1.7

3.7 ± 1.4

3.8 ± 1.5

Overuse of antibiotics can make bacteria more resistant to antibiotics

4.6 ± 0.9

4.7 ± 1.0

3.9 ± 1.7

4.1 ± 1.5

Giving an antibiotic to a patient with cold symptoms can prevent an infection from occurring

3.9 ± 1.4

4.3 ± 1.2

3.5 ± 1.4

3.6 ± 1.6

It is worth trying an antibiotic when someone has cold symptoms for 5 days

3.9 ± 1.2

4.3 ± 1.1

2.8 ± 1.6

3.7 ± 1.5

Using antibiotics frequently doesn’t make them less effective

4.5 ± 1.2

4.7 ± 0.9

3.8 ± 1.6

4.4 ± 1.3

Treatment with antibiotics is necessary when nasal discharge turns from yellow to green in color

1.8 ± 1.2

3.2 ± 1.6

1.4 ± 1.2

3.0 ± 1.7

Antibiotics help cold symptoms clear up more quickly

4.3 ± 1.1

4.6 ± 0.9

3.4 ± 1.5

4.1 ± 1.4

Antibiotics are helpful in treating colds

4.2 ± 1.1

4.7 ± 0.7

3.2 ± 1.5

4.0 ± 1.4

Overall scores

3.8 ± 0.5

4.0 ± 0.7

3.3 ± 0.9

4.0 ± 1.2