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Table 2 Results of the second factor analysis on the agree-to-take items. Means and standard deviations. Cronbach’s alpha. Only four items for each factor – the ones with the highest loadings – are shown

From: Why patients want to take or refuse to take antibiotics: an inventory of motives

Items Factors
One of the reasons why I have been led to take antibiotics was that … I II III IV V VI M SD
... it seemed to be the appropriate treatment .86 .02 .09 .12 .03 .19 8.22 5.40
... I wished to fight an infection. .86 .03 .09 .09 −.00 .18 8.46 5.52
... simply because the physician had prescribed them. .85 −.13 .11 .10 .05 .02 9.44 5.45
... I considered that to take them was reasonable .84 .14 .06 .13 .01 .22 7.65 5.22
... I particularly feared this kind of infection. .08 .76 .02 .15 .17 .08 6.66 4.87
... I was not able to put up with the idea that micro-organisms were invading my body. .10 .67 .06 .28 .14 .20 4.31 4.19
... I wished to reassure and comfort myself. .03 .65 .19 .23 .27 .03 5.26 4.70
... I wished to quickly recover my place in the family. −.26 .61 .01 .28 .38 .19 5.46 5.08
... I wished to go out with friends. .30 .05 .78 .06 .19 .12 4.67 4.44
... I wished to go out in order to change my mind. .27 .13 .77 .18 .03 .16 3.71 3.95
... I didn’t wish to miss a friendly (or romantic) rendezvous. .15 .22 .76 .14 .24 .11 4.44 4.27
... I wanted to be able to go to a celebration. .12 .15 .72 .20 .29 .17 3.82 3.98
... owing to my health state my relatives suggested me to do it. .18 .31 .22 .81 .14 .10 5.44 4.68
... I was aware that significant persons were preoccupied because of my bad health. .19 .23 .31 .74 .14 .28 3.78 4.06
... I didn’t want to add anything to people’s concerns about me. .08 .25 .18 .73 .18 .07 4.13 4.10
... owing to my current state of health my partner strongly insisted I do so. .25 .08 .18 .73 .02 .26 4.19 4.33
... it was necessary to be in good health for assuming my responsibilities at work (or in my work team) .06 .25 .15 .05 .73 .25 7.07 5.17
... I wanted to be in good shape because of an important event (to pass an exam or to meet with business partners). .23 .19 .27 .22 .69 .05 7.85 5.11
... I wanted to complete something important. −.05 .28 .29 .20 .68 .14 5.80 4.81
... I wanted to be able to go and work or study. .35 .24 .17 .18 .63 .21 7.18 5.02
... I didn’t want to be a weight for other people. .29 .20 .12 .22 .21 .71 4.51 4.58
... I didn’t want to depend on other people because of my illness. .28 .24 .15 .28 .17 .70 4.23 4.46
... I wanted to keep control over certain situations. .31 .12 .25 .16 .35 .63 4.31 4.40
... I didn’t wish to bother people with my illness. .35 .16 .19 .30 .11 .60 4.98 4.75
Explained variance 7.73 4.06 4.02 3.65 2.99 2.68   
Percentage of variance .21 .11 .11 .10 .08 .07   
M 8.46 5.78 4.17 4.41 6.99 4.51   
SD 4.89 3.71 3.60 3.53 4.13 3.86   
Mean score > 8 251 117 77 67 180 75   
Cronbach’s alpha .93 .79 .89 .89 .84 .87   
  1. I = Appropriate prescription, II = Protective device, III = Enjoyment, IV = Others’ pressure, V = Work imperative, VI = Personal autonomy
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BMC Public Health

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