New Study: 28% of US Adults Lie to Doctors for Antibiotics, Often Successfully
Two new studies published in JAMA Network Open reveal that 28% of US adults and 27% of caregivers have lied to clinicians to obtain antibiotics. Patients frequently exaggerate or fabricate viral symptoms, such as colds, which antibiotics do not treat. Despite the medical inappropriateness, 77% of adults and 87% of caregivers reported success in obtaining prescriptions. Researchers emphasize that this behavior stems from a lack of trust and a desire for control, highlighting the need for better patient-clinician communication rather than increased suspicion.