Understanding the Culture of Antibiotics Prescribing of Primary Physicians for Acute Upper Respiratory Infection

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: To understand why primary physicians prescribe antibiotics for some cases of acute upper respiratory infections and to explore the factors that influence their prescribing. METHODS: Qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews. Participants were 12 primary physicians in the maximum variety sample. RESULTS: Interviewees were identified the problems of antibiotics abuse and misuse in Korea. Primary physicians were certain that patients will benefit from antibiotics and prescribe for the patients' expectation of fast relief. Doctors are mostly comfortable with their prescribing decisions by their clinical experiences. They are also more likely to prescribe antibiotics in pressures of time and in competitive clinical environment. CONCLUSION: Multiple factors are involved in primary physicians' decision of their prescribing for acute upper respiratory infections. Further interventions to reduces prescribing would need to improve identification of patients at risk of complications and be workable in busy clinical situations. Repeating evidence for lack of effectiveness and lack of efficiency in general might be helpful.