Antibiotic-Seeking Behavior in College Students: What Do They Really Expect?

Abstract

Injudicious use of antibiotics contributes to increased bacterial resistance, and patient expectations encourage physicians to overuse antibiotics. The authors evaluated the level of ill college students' antibiotic-seeking behavior to determine if receiving an antibiotic prescription influenced patients' satisfaction with visits to a clinician. Of 129 students with upper respiratory complaints presenting to a university health center, 55% expected an antibiotic prescription. Antibiotic expectation was significantly more likely among students who thought they had a bacterial versus a viral infection (90% vs 40%; p < .01). A clear diagnosis, an explanation of the rationale for treatment, and an antibiotic prescription were significantly associated with patient satisfaction. Clinicians prescribed an antibiotic for 36% of the students; only 13% of these 46 had requested an antibiotic during the visit. At some previous time, one third of the students had taken an antibiotic prescribed for an earlier illness or for another person. Better patient education and improved clinician-patient communication can potentially help to reduce the injudicious use of antibiotics.

Key Words:

• antibiotic resistance
• antibiotic use
• college students
• patient satisfaction
• student health

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Adam B. Possner

All of the authors are with the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville. Katherine A. Haltiwanger and Gregory F. Hayden are with the Department of Pediatrics, Thomas Weber is with the Department of Family Medicine, Brent A. Evans is with the Department of Health Evaluation Sciences, and Adam B. Possner is an undergraduate student at the university.