Results were based on phone interviews with a national sample of adults who have been prescribed an antibiotic within the past three years.

Here are some highlights of the survey:

• 53% of Canadians said they had been prescribed an oral antibiotic in the past three years, compared with 61% in 2000.
• 80% of those who have been prescribed an antibiotic stated that they always finish their prescribed medication, compared with 76% in 2000.
• 63% indicated they are less likely to ask for a prescription for a cold or flu, compared with 55% in 2000.
• Only 35% of respondents said they had spoken to their doctor about why they were or were not prescribed an antibiotic, compared with 67% in 2000.
• Of those who said they always finish all of their antibiotic prescription (80%):
  • 56% say they do so because they are supposed to finish it / it's required / doctor's advice (45% in 2000).
  • 35% want to prevent recurrence (29% in 2000).
  • 8% say they do so to prevent bacteria from becoming resistant (12% in 2000).
• Of those who said they rarely (4%) / never (4%) finish all of their antibiotic prescription (8%):
  • 66% say that they stop taking it if they are feeling better (unchanged from 2000).
• 91% strongly agree/agree somewhat with the following statement, "antibiotics are useful for the treatment of bacterial infections", compared with 93% in 2000.
• 53% of consumers incorrectly say that they agree (strongly or somewhat) that "antibiotics are useful for the treatment of viral infections", compared with 54% in 2000.
• 30% of those polled incorrectly believe (agree strongly or somewhat) that "most colds and flus can be treated successfully with antibiotics", compared with 33% in 2000.
• During the past 12 months 40% of consumers say that they have heard or seen new information about using antibiotics, compared with 43% in 2000.