Background Since the 2000s, French authorities have put in place various national plans to make the general public aware of antibiotic stewardship. Twenty years later, France is still one of the countries with the highest use of antibiotics in Europe. Objectives Our study explored the general public’s perceptions of antibiotic resistance, their behaviour around antibiotic use and their expectations regarding awareness campaigns. Methods A qualitative study was performed from March 2018 to March 2019 in a French region using focus groups. Two types of public were targeted: parents of young children and retired people. The interview guide contained open-ended questions organized around three main themes: perceptions of antibiotic resistance; experience and use of antibiotics; and health information and campaigns. Results Nine focus groups were created, including 17 parents and 19 retirees. Participants did not link antibiotic overuse and antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance was not perceived as a personal responsibility but as a suffered phenomenon on which the participants could not act. The blame was particularly put on the presence of antibiotics in the environment. Although participants expressed trust in their GPs, antibiotics remained perceived as the only solution for them to be cured quickly. Conclusions The study highlighted that the GPs were the preferred information source regarding the use of antibiotics. Actions targeting the public and health professionals will have little impact if, at the same time, efforts on work environment representation are not undertaken.

Apprendre un métier à Valenciennes n’est pas un acte hors de la portée d’un jeune d’« âge complet », qui va de dix-huit à vingt ans. C’est une chance offerte aux enfants abandonnés de s’initier à une activité. Dans la cité de l’Escaut, les maîtres veillent à la bonne exécution de l’apprentissage, forment peu de jeunes hommes durant leur période d’activité. En règle générale, ils entretiennent des relations filiales avec les adolescents confiés par leurs parents selon un accord verbal qui, dans la société urbaine du Nord de la France, a valeur de preuve. Sauf exceptions, les rapports entre les maîtres et apprentis ne sont pas fondés sur la violence mais plutôt sur l’amour du métier transmis à une majorité de nouveaux venus.