Differences in patient education and health literacy also tied to patient expectations<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter<\/b>
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TUESDAY, Oct. 8, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Lack of knowledge of antibiotic risks contributes to primary care patients’ expectations of antibiotics for common symptoms, according to a study published online in the September\/October issue of the Annals of Family Medicine<\/em>.<\/p>\n Lindsey A. Laytner, Ph.D., from the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, and colleagues conducted a survey (January 2020 to June 2021) in public and private primary care clinics to study the prevalence and predictors of patients\u2019 antibiotic expectations for common symptoms\/illnesses. The analysis included 564 patients (Black: 33 percent; Hispanic\/Latine: 47 percent).<\/p>\n The researchers found that more than 93 percent of respondents expected to receive an antibiotic for at least one of the five predefined symptoms\/illnesses. The expectation of antibiotics for a sore throat, diarrhea, and cold\/flu was twice as high for patients of public clinics versus private clinics. Increased antibiotic expectations for diarrhea (odds ratio, 1.6) and cold\/flu symptoms (odds ratio, 2.9) were associated with lack of knowledge of potential risks of antibiotic use. Predictors of antibiotic expectations for diarrhea included lower education and inadequate health literacy.<\/p>\n “Using these findings, we are developing a patient-clinician antibiotic education tool to educate and empower patients on proper antibiotic use and assist clinicians in discussing alternative (nonantibiotic) treatment options with their patients,” the authors write.<\/p>\n One author disclosed ties to Genentech and Peptilogics.<\/p>\n