Publication Date
1-1-2024
Journal
Annals of Family Medicine
DOI
10.1370/afm.3161
PMID
39313338
PMCID
PMC11419724
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
9-1-2024
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Post-Print
Published Open-Access
yes
Keywords
Humans, Female, Male, Anti-Bacterial Agents, Primary Health Care, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Adult, Middle Aged, Texas, Diarrhea, Surveys and Questionnaires, Health Literacy, Aged, Young Adult, Antimicrobial Stewardship, Pharyngitis, Common Cold
Abstract
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.
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