The effect of narratives on perceived antibacterial resistance susceptibility: A randomized controlled experiment among Dutch medical students

Healthcare professionals often perceive antibiotic resistance (ABR) as distant and abstract, thereby underestimating their susceptibility to it. This study examined whether reading or writing a narrative can enhance perceived susceptibility to ABR. In an experiment, Dutch medical students (n = 237) were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: reading or writing a narrative or reading non-narrative information (control). Perceived susceptibility was measured at three spatial distance levels: 'you', 'your patients', and patients abroad. Narratives, whether read or written, were not more effective than non-narrative information in increasing participants' perceived susceptibility to ABR. Imaginability mediated the relationship between type of narrative and perceived susceptibility post-manipulation only at the distance level 'your patients'. At this distance level, the pre-constructed narrative increased imaginability more than the self-constructed narrative. Future experimental studies should investigate the effect of adjusted narratives in increasing perceived susceptibility to ABR, a threat perceived as distant and abstract.