Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31964635›Full record

ArticleBJGP open2020

A simple dose of antibiotics: qualitative analysis of sepsis reporting in UK newspapers.

Lynne Rush, Shona Hilton, Lisa McDaid

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BJGP open, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact, top 99% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 2 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Be-SNAP: the Belgian Sepsis National Action Plan.Frontiers in public health · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.

Lynne RushClinical Research Fellow, MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK lynne.rush@gla.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4607-0015
Shona HiltonProfessor of Public Health Policy, MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
Lisa McDaidProfessor of Social Sciences and Health, MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit · GBQueensland University of Technology · AU

Funding

Chief Scientist Office SPHSU11Chief Scientist Office SPHSU15Chief Scientist Office SPHSU18Medical Research Council MC_UU_00022/3Medical Research Council MC_UU_12017/11Medical Research Council MC_UU_12017/15
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundA recent drive to improve sepsis awareness has been accompanied by prolific media reporting about its management in children. Media reporting is known to influence public understanding of health issues and subsequent health-seeking behaviour.

aimTo examine UK newspaper representations of sepsis in children to better understand how the messages they convey may impact on parents' consulting behaviour and expectations about antimicrobial prescribing. DESIGN &

settingQualitative analysis of articles published in 12 UK newspapers from January 1988 to June 2018.

methodThematic analysis of 140 articles about sepsis in children identified through a search on the Nexis database.

resultsReporting about sepsis in UK newspapers was characterised by emotive personal narratives about affected children who have suffered death or disability. These events were frequently presented as resulting from failings within the healthcare system that could have been avoided by early treatment. Health professionals were portrayed as inadequately prepared to recognise and manage sepsis, and as reluctant to prescribe antibiotics, even when necessary. Parents were positioned as advocates for their children, and as being ultimately responsible for ensuring that they receive appropriate treatment.

conclusionThis research identified messages about sepsis in the UK news media that could influence public attitudes about antibiotic prescribing in acute childhood illness. Public health communications about sepsis awareness must acknowledge the wider implications of unnecessary antibiotic use as a driver of antimicrobial resistance to reduce the risk of damaging efforts to promote rational prescribing.

Indexed as

anti-bacterial agentschildclinical decision-makingdrug resistancenewspaper articlesepsis

Identifiers

PMID31964635
PMCPMC7330194
OpenAlexW2988681566

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.