title: Attitudinal classification of patients receiving antibiotic treatment for mild respiratory tract infections.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine patients' perceptions of antibiotic therapy and the doctor's skill in the management of ambulatory respiratory tract infections. Standardized face-to-face interviews were used with more than 3000 randomized patients or parents from four European countries. Attitudinal dimensions relating to their doctor identified four patient types: Involved (30%), Deferent (23%), Ignored (13%) and Critical (17%). Involved and Deferent patients were the most satisfied by the information received from their doctor (43%/39% compared with 17%/16% for Ignored/Critical, respectively, P < 0.01). They also scored more highly on the accurate use of antibiotics, with 80%/80% vs. 38%/62%, respectively (P < 0.01), understanding dosing intervals and 77%/77% vs. 36%/60% (P < 0.01), understanding the course length. Involved and Deferent patients showed better compliant behaviour, with 91% of both groups vs. 86% of the Ignored and Critical claiming to have taken every dose (P < 0.001) and 92%/87% vs. 84%/85% claiming to have finished the course (P < 0.001 for Involved only). Involved and Deferent patients were less prone to save part of a course of antibiotics than the Ignored and Critical (46%/41% vs. 20%/31%, P < 0.001), and they perceived the antibiotics prescribed to be more effective (36%/31% vs. 21%/15%, P < 0.001). By analysing patient perceptions, this study identifies an important mirror effect, whereby a more sympathetic attitude from the doctor should increase the patient's involvement in disease management, for a more appropriate use of antibiotics in common infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Geneva, 19 Krieg, 1208 Geneva, Switzerland. pechere@cmu.unige.ch
authors.forename: J-C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Pechère
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cenedese
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Perez-Gorricho
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ripoll
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: J-P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Stahl
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stahlmann
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tramarin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010551:Personality; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010820:Physicians / Q000592:standards; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents