Patient expectations of receiving antibiotics for common symptoms can trigger unnecessary use, contributing to antibiotic resistance and other health risks. A new study examined the prevalence of and factors that influence patient antibiotic expectations for common symptoms.

This study surveyed 564 primary-care patients in Texas between January 2020 and June 2021 across public and private clinics. The survey assessed patients’ expectations for antibiotics when experiencing five common symptoms—diarrhea, sore throat, cold/flu, sinus infections, and bronchitis—and their knowledge of the risks associated with antibiotic use. Researchers also examined how health literacy affected these expectations.

More than 93% of the patients surveyed expected antibiotics for at least one of the five common symptoms. Public clinic patients were nearly twice as likely to expect antibiotics for sore throat, diarrhea, and cold/flu compared to those in private clinics. Higher expectations for receiving antibiotics for diarrhea and cold/flu symptoms was linked to lack of knowledge about the potential risks of antibiotics. Patients with lower education levels and inadequate health literacy were more likely to expect antibiotics for diarrhea.

To reduce unnecessary antibiotic use, future efforts should educate patients on when antibiotics are truly needed and emphasize potential risks.

Source: American Academy of Family Physicians