Does diagnostic uncertainty increase antibiotic prescribing in primary care?

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to determine the association between factors relevant to diagnostic uncertainty and physicians' antibiotic-prescribing behaviour in primary care. A questionnaire survey was conducted on 327 physicians that measured their diagnostic ability, perceived frequency of diagnostic uncertainty, tolerance, and perceived patient tolerance of uncertainty. Physician antibiotic-prescribing behaviours were assessed based on their prescriptions (n = 207,804) of three conditions: upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs, antibiotics not recommended), acute tonsillitis (cautious use of antibiotics), and pneumonia (antibiotics recommended). A two-level logistic regression model determined the association between diagnostic uncertainty factors and physician antibiotic prescribing. Physician

SUBMITTER: Wang D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7994848 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature