Why do general practitioners prescribe antibiotics for upper respiratory tract infections to meet patient expectations: a mixed methods study

Objectives To describe the role patient expectations play in general practitioners (GPs) antibiotic prescribing for upper respiratory tract infections.
Methods Concurrent explanatory mixed methods approach using a cross sectional survey and semi structured interviews Settings Primary care general practitioners in Australia Participants 584 general practitioners (response rate of 23.6%) completed the cross sectional survey. 32 general practitioners were interviewed individually. Outcome measure: Prescribing of antibiotics for upper respiratory tract infection Results More than half of the GPs in Australia self-reported that they would prescribe antibiotics for an upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) to meet patient expectations. Our qualitative findings suggest that ‘patient expectations’ may be the main reason given for inappropriate prescribing but it is an all-encompassing phrase that includes other reasons. These include limited time, poor doctor-patient communication, and diag...