David A. Broniatowski|Eili Klein|Valerie F. Reyna
Germs Are Germs, and Why Not Take a Risk? Patients’ Expectations for Prescribing Antibiotics in an Inner-City Emergency Department
George Washington University|Johns Hopkins University|Decision Research|Cornell University|George Washington University|Johns Hopkins University|Decision Research|Cornell University|George Washington University|Johns Hopkins University|Decision Research|Cornell University
background extensive use unnecessary antibiotics driven emergence resistant bacterial strains posing threat public health physicians likely prescribe antibiotics believe patients expect current attempts change expectations highlight distinction viruses bacteria germs germs fuzzytrace theory predicts patients expect antibiotics make decisions based categorical gist producing strategies encourage risk taking status quo bad ie take risk investigate hypotheses methods surveyed patients visiting emergency department large urban hospital 72 64 african american using 17 likert scale questions 2 freeresponse questions regarding patient expectations antibiotics results clinical encounter 113 patients completed survey fiftyfour 48 patients agreed items assess germs germs hypothesis whereas 86 76 agreed items assess take risk hypothesis take risk captures significant unique variance factor analysis neither explained germs germs patients lack knowledge regarding side effects 81 patients rejected germs germs hypothesis 61 75 still indicated agreement take risk hypothesis several misconceptions also investigated conclusions findings suggest recent public health campaigns focused educating patients differences viruses bacteria omit key motivation patients expect antibiotics supporting fuzzytrace theorys predictions categorical gist implications public health emergency medicine discussed