GPs believe their use of antibiotics for sore throat is appropriate

General practitioners feel comfortable with their decisions to prescribe antibiotics for patients with sore throat. Although most have reduced their prescriptions in response to research and policy initiatives, a qualitative study by Kumar and colleagues (p 138) found that GPs continued to prescribe for patients they felt were at risk of complications, such as sicker people or those from low socioeconomic backgrounds. However, doctors were uncertain who benefits most from antibiotics. They were more likely to prescribe in high pressure clinical situations and did not prescribe to maintain the doctor-patient relationship. Interventions to reduce prescribing further will have to be workable in busy clinics.

(Credit: CC STUDIO/SPL)

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Relevant Article

Why do general practitioners prescribe antibiotics for sore throat? Grounded theory interview study

Satinder Kumar, Paul Little, and Nicky Britten
BMJ 2003 326: 138. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]