● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportLow impact1 neutral
Over 25% of Patients Lie to Doctors for Antibiotics, Often with Ineffective Lies
Key points
- Over 25% of patients lie to doctors for antibiotics.
- Lies often involve symptoms of viral infections, not bacterial.
- 77% of adults and 87% of caregivers successfully obtained antibiotics.
- Findings highlight issues for antimicrobial stewardship and public health.
Prevalence of Patient Deception
Two studies published in JAMA Network Open reveal that a substantial portion of patients in the US misrepresent symptoms to obtain antibiotic prescriptions. Researchers led by Alistair Thorpe at the University of Utah analyzed online survey data from over 1,000 adults, finding that 28% of respondents admitted to lying to a clinician for antibiotics for themselves or a child.
Nature of the Lies
Patients primarily lied by exaggerating existing symptoms or fabricating new ones. The most common falsehoods involved symptoms typically associated with viral infections, such as colds (fever, cough, sore throat), which are not treatable with antibiotics. This suggests a misunderstanding of antibiotic efficacy or a deliberate attempt to secure medication for conditions where it is ineffective.
Success Rate of Deception
Despite the often illogical nature of the lies, patients frequently succeeded in obtaining prescriptions. The studies found that 77% of adult patients and 87% of caregivers who lied reported that their deception resulted in receiving the antibiotic prescription they sought. This indicates a high rate of clinicians prescribing antibiotics even when presented with dubious symptom reports.
Implications for Public Health
The researchers concluded that these findings represent a significant challenge for healthcare professionals making prescribing decisions and for broader antimicrobial stewardship and public health initiatives. The widespread, often successful, patient deception contributes to the overuse of antibiotics, which can lead to increased antibiotic resistance and other public health concerns.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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Reporting from
Two new studies found that over 25% of US patients lie to clinicians to obtain antibiotic prescriptions, often exaggerating or fabricating symptoms that antibiotics do not treat. Despite the nature of these lies, 77% of adults and 87% of caregivers reported successfully receiving the desired prescription. This indicates a significant problem for antimicrobial stewardship and public health efforts.