Are Sore Throat Patients Who Hope for Antibiotics Actually Asking for Pain Relief?
Ann Fam Med van Driel et al.
4: 494
The Article in Brief
Are Sore Throat Patients Who Hope For Antibiotics Actually Asking For Pain Relief?
By Mieke van Driel, MD, MSc, and colleagues
Background Doctors often prescribe antibiotics for patients with sore throats, even though evidence shows that antibiotics may not be effective in such cases. Doctors are more likely to prescribe an antibiotic if they believe the patient expects it. This study examines what sore throat patients consider important when they visit their family doctor.
What This Study Found Pain relief is an important concern of patients visiting their family doctor about a sore throat. Patients who hope to receive an antibiotic prescription are more concerned about pain relief than patients who are not interested in antibiotics.
Implications
- Patients' desire for an antibiotic may be based on the mistaken view that it is the best treatment for pain relief.
- Addressing patients' expectations and needs for managing pain may help doctors treat sore throats without prescribing antibiotics. Additional research is needed to explore this possibility.
