A survey involving University of Utah researchers found that more than one in four U.S. adults said they had exaggerated or made up symptoms to try to get antibiotics for themselves or a child, showing a need for better conversations between patients and clinicians.
The study was published October 30 in JAMA Network Open. 28% of respondents said they had misrepresented their own symptoms. 27% of caregivers said they had done so while seeking antibiotics for a child.
Respondents commonly said they felt very sick, thought antibiotics were the only treatment that would help, or wanted to get better quickly so they could return to work, school or other responsibilities. Some also said they wanted more control over their treatment. The researchers said patients who feel dismissed by clinicians may be more likely to misrepresent their symptoms.
They said this shows the importance of listening to patients’ concerns even when antibiotics are not appropriate. The findings do not mean antibiotics are right for every illness. Antibiotics treat bacterial infections, not viruses.
Unnecessary use can contribute to antibiotic resistance. The survey relied on people’s own reports. It records what respondents said they had done, rather than prescribing visits that were independently confirmed.
The researchers say clearer explanations of treatment options and better communication between patients and clinicians could help address this behavior.