Research
Patients admit lying to get antibiotics – and most say it worked
Earth.com · By Eric Ralls ·
The Brief
- A new survey of American adults found that more than a quarter admitted going further than the truth to get antibiotics from a clinic.
- Respondents said they exaggerated how severe their symptoms were or said their symptoms had lasted longer than they had, and most said the approach worked.
Why it matters
Antibiotic prescriptions often depend on patients' reported symptoms, so exaggeration can lead to unnecessary prescribing, which contributes to antibiotic resistance.
Who’s affected
- clinicians and prescribers
- public health researchers
- anyone who takes antibiotics or visits a clinic
- #antibiotics
- #antimicrobial resistance
- #patient behavior
- #survey
- #healthcare
Many people walk into a clinic hoping to leave with antibiotics. In a new survey, more than a quarter of the American adults questioned said they had gone further. To get antibiotics, they exaggerated how severe their symptoms were, said they had lasted longer than they had, or…