In Your Best Interest?

When you or one of your children catch a cold, chances are good
that a virus is to blame. In fact, evidence also suggests that
60-75% of colds, bronchitis, and other upper respiratory tract
infections are caused by viruses.

Unfortunately, chances are also good that your doctor will
prescribe an antibiotic, despite substantial evidence that
antibiotics are ineffective against viral infections.  Doctors
know the statistics, but for some reason, they don't always share
the information with you.

A study published in the research journal Pediatrics examined
pediatrician prescribing behaviors as they related to parental
expectations. Ten physicians and more than 300 parents attending
sick visits for their children were surveyed. Results showed that
when physicians thought a parent wanted an antibiotic for viral
complaints, they prescribed one 62% of the time, compared with only
7% of the time when they did not think the parent wanted
antibiotics.

The bottom line? Many medical doctors prescribed unnecessary
medication -- antibiotics they knew would be ineffective against
viral infections -- because they thought that's what parents
expected.

The researchers suggest that steps need to be taken to change
physician perceptions regarding parental expectations. After all,
parents may or may not expect antibiotics, but what they probably
expect (and want) most of all is a doctor who provides quality,
accurate and honest health care each and every visit.

Mangione-Smith R, McGlynn E, Elliott M, et al. The relationship
between parental expectations and pediatrician antimicrobial
prescribing behavior. Pediatrics, April 1999: Vol. 103, No. 4,
pp711-718.