Patients who expect antibiotics for common conditions are at risk for antibiotic overuse, making education about the risks of misuse and resistance important for both clinicians and the public.
Research: Lack of knowledge about antibiotic risks contributes to primary care patients’ expectations of antibiotics for common conditions. Image credit: New Africa / Shutterstock.com
In a recent study published in The Annals of Family Medicine, researchers examined predictors and prevalence of antibiotic expectations among patients with common conditions and conditions.
More than 93% of patients expected antibiotics for one or more common symptoms, and higher expectations were observed among patients in public clinics. Low educational attainment, poor health literacy, and lack of knowledge about the risks of antibiotics are associated with increased expectations of antibiotics.
Inappropriate use of antibiotics
Patients are frequently prescribed antibiotics for common viral conditions and illnesses such as respiratory infections, colds/flu, and diarrhea, even though clinical guidelines recommend against prescribing antibiotics. I am. In fact, current estimates indicate that up to 28% of antibiotic prescriptions in the United States alone are unnecessary.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a serious public health concern that threatens to disrupt global health systems, primarily due to the frequent inappropriate use of antibiotics. However, reducing inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics is complex because it involves a variety of factors, including patient beliefs, knowledge, and expectations. Few studies have investigated the independent influence of sociodemographic factors and antibiotic risk perception on patients’ expectations about antibiotics in the treatment of common conditions.
About research
In the current study, researchers assessed how often patients expect antibiotics for conditions such as acute diarrhea, cold/flu, sore throat, sinus infections, and bronchitis, and compared private and public We compared the prevalence of these expectations among patients in the primary care system. Researchers have also identified a variety of factors that may predict patient expectations for antibiotics for each specific condition.
The study was conducted from January 2020 to June 2021 at six public primary care clinics and two private emergency departments in Harris County, Texas. Patients from various sociodemographic backgrounds were invited to participate in the study via flyers, and the study was conducted in-person or virtually due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) restrictions. Individuals under 18 years of age and individuals unable to complete the survey were excluded from the analysis.
In this study, patients’ expectations toward antibiotics were assessed using a Likert scale and dichotomized into expectations or no expectations. Patients’ knowledge regarding antibiotic risks, sociodemographic factors, and health literacy were also analyzed. Knowledge of antibiotic risks was determined by positive responses to risk perception questions, while a validated screening tool was used to measure health literacy.
Statistical comparisons between patient characteristics and antibiotic expectations were performed using the chi-square test. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was also used to assess the influence of education, knowledge of antibiotic risks, health care system, and health literacy on antibiotic expectations.
Research results
Among patients surveyed, 84% believed antibiotics were helpful in treating bronchitis, while 72%, 64%, 66%, and 36% believed that antibiotics were helpful in treating bronchitis, while 72%, 64%, 66%, and 36% believed that antibiotics were helpful in treating bronchitis, sinusitis, cold/flu, sore throat, and diarrhea, respectively. I expected that antibiotics would be prescribed to treat this. Patients in public clinics were almost twice as likely to expect antibiotics for diarrhea, sore throat, and cold/flu compared to patients in private clinics, with odds ratios (OR) of 1.8 and 1.8, respectively. It was 2.2, 1.5.
Lower levels of education predicted higher expectations for antibiotics for diarrhea. Similarly, patients without a high school diploma were twice as likely to expect antibiotics compared to those with a college education.
Approximately 37% of patients lack knowledge about the risks of antibiotics, which significantly increases expectations for antibiotics in the treatment of diarrhea and cold/flu, with ORs of 1.6 and 2.9, respectively, to a lesser extent But he also had symptoms of a sore throat.
These findings are consistent with those of previous studies. However, current research is limited by the lack of generalizability to less diverse urban areas, the potential complexity of patients in public clinics, social desirability bias, and the effects of novel coronavirus on antibiotic expectations. Limited by the potential impact of an infectious disease pandemic.
conclusion
Differences in patient education, health literacy, knowledge of antibiotic risks, and health care systems contribute to unrealistic patient expectations for antibiotic treatment for common conditions. To address this issue, future management interventions should focus on educating patients about the conditions that antibiotics can effectively treat and highlighting both the individual and societal risks associated with antibiotic use. You should guess.
Based on these findings, the researchers in the current study created an antibiotic guideline for patients and clinicians to promote appropriate antibiotic use and encourage discussion of non-antibiotic treatment options. It aims to create educational tools.
Reference magazines:
LAytner, L.A., Trautner, B.W., Nash, S., et al. (2024). Lack of knowledge about the risks of antibiotics has led to expectations of antibiotics for common conditions among primary care patients. Annual Report of Family Medicine 22(5);421-425 (2024). doi: 10.1370/afm.3161.
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