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Survey reveals cultural differences in antibiotic knowledge, attitudes
Results of a national Internet survey showed that Hispanic consumers were more likely to believe that antibiotics treat cold symptoms and were more likely to seek antibiotics from sources other than their physician or clinic.
The researchers said this suggested that public health officials should consider cultural factors when designing public health initiatives about appropriate antibiotic use.
“Health care providers face ongoing challenges in responding to patient expectations regarding antibiotic use,” the researchers wrote. “Antibiotics are rarely indicated for a cough or cold, but 41% of Hispanic consumers and more than a quarter of all consumers reported expecting an antibiotic at a health care visit for these syndromes.”
The CDC analyzed data from the Internet-based Summer 2012 and Fall 2013 HealthStyles surveys. The surveys included three categories of participants: the total population of adult consumers, adult Hispanic consumers and health care providers.
The results showed that 40% of Hispanic consumers believed that when they have a cold, antibiotics prevent more serious illnesses compared with 17% of the total population; 48% believed antibiotics hastened their recovery vs. 25% in the total population.
Furthermore, 25% of Hispanic consumers said they were more likely to obtain antibiotics from sources other than their physician or clinic, such as leftover antibiotics, from a neighborhood grocery store or from a family member or friend.
Knowledge of antibiotic side effects was comparable between Hispanic and all consumers. However, Hispanics were less aware of antibiotic resistance or that antibiotics might kill beneficial intestinal bacteria.
Among health care providers, 54% said they thought their patients expected an antibiotic to treat a viral illness.
“Provider perception of patient expectations for an antibiotic is important, because it has been shown to be a reliable predictor of overprescribing, which might contribute to preventable side effects, adverse drug events and antibiotic resistance,” the researchers wrote.
In fact, only 26% of all consumers and 41% of Hispanic consumers said they expected an antibiotic during an office visit for a viral illness, according to the survey results. Instead of a prescription, it was more common for all consumers to expect reassurance (42%) from their physician; 58% of Hispanic consumers expected recommendations for symptom relief. These findings indicated that provider counseling, not an antibiotic prescription, is critical for consumer satisfaction, the researchers said. – by Colleen Owens
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.