RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Lack of Knowledge of Antibiotic Risks Contributes to Primary Care Patients’ Expectations of Antibiotics for Common Symptoms
JF The Annals of Family Medicine
JO Ann Fam Med
FD American Academy of Family Physicians
SP 421
OP 425
DO 10.1370/afm.3161
VO 22
IS 5
A1 Laytner, Lindsey A.
A1 Trautner, Barbara W.
A1 Nash, Susan
A1 Zoorob, Roger
A1 Okoh, Jennifer O.
A1 Amenta, Eva
A1 Olmeda, Kiara
A1 Salinas, Juanita
A1 Paasche-Orlow, Michael K.
A1 Grigoryan, Larissa
YR 2024
UL http://www.annfammed.org/content/22/5/421.abstract
AB Patient expectations of receiving antibiotics for common symptoms can trigger unnecessary use. We conducted a survey (n = 564) between January 2020 to June 2021 in public and private primary care clinics in Texas to study the prevalence and predictors of patients’ antibiotic expectations for common symptoms/illnesses. We surveyed Black patients (33%) and Hispanic/Latine patients (47%), and over 93% expected to receive an antibiotic for at least 1 of the 5 pre-defined symptoms/illnesses. Public clinic patients were nearly twice as likely to expect antibiotics for sore throat, diarrhea, and cold/flu than private clinic patients. Lack of knowledge of potential risks of antibiotic use was associated with increased antibiotic expectations for diarrhea (odds ratio [OR] = 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1-2.4) and cold/flu symptoms (OR = 2.9; 95% CI, 2.0-4.4). Lower education and inadequate health literacy were predictors of antibiotic expectations for diarrhea. Future antibiotic stewardship interventions should tailor patient education materials to include information on antibiotic risks and guidance on appropriate antibiotic indications.