Antibiotic prescription in primary care from the perspective of family physicians: a qualitative study
Introduction: Antibiotic consumption increases worldwide steadily. Turkey is now top on the list of global consumption and became a prototype of excessive use of antibiotics. In the last two decades, family physicians (FPs) have become key figures in the healthcare system. This study aims to unders...
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The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Journal of Infection in Developing Countries |
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| Online Access: | https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/13924 |
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| author | Salih Hosoglu Annika Yanina Classen Zekeriya Akturk |
| author_facet | Salih Hosoglu Annika Yanina Classen Zekeriya Akturk |
| author_sort | Salih Hosoglu |
| collection | DOAJ |
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Introduction: Antibiotic consumption increases worldwide steadily. Turkey is now top on the list of global consumption and became a prototype of excessive use of antibiotics. In the last two decades, family physicians (FPs) have become key figures in the healthcare system. This study aims to understand the reasons for inappropriate antibiotic prescribing and elicit suggestions for improving antibiotic use in primary care from doctors themselves.
Methodology: This is a qualitative semi-structured interview study with research dialogues guided by the Vancouver School of interpretive phenomenology. Fourteen FPs from different parts of Turkey were questioned on inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions and their suggestions for improving antibiotic use.
Results: The most important reasons for prescribing antibiotics without acceptable indications were patient expectations, defensive medical decision making, constraints due to workload, and limited access to laboratories. The most remarkable inference was the personal feeling of an insecure job environment of the FPs. The most potent suggestions for improving the quality of antibiotic prescription were public campaigns, improvements in the diagnostic infrastructures of primary care centers, and enhancing the social status of FPs. The FPs expressed strong concerns related to the complaints that patients make to administrative bodies.
Conclusions: Primary care physicians work under immense pressure, stemming mainly from workload, patient expectations, and obstacles related to diagnostic processes. Improving the social status of physicians, increasing public awareness, and the facilitation of diagnostic procedures was the methods suggested for increasing antibiotic prescription accuracy.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fe2e15b3d64748a9b57db738f23f8fd3 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1972-2680 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Infection in Developing Countries |
| spelling | doaj-art-fe2e15b3d64748a9b57db738f23f8fd32025-08-20T02:27:14ZengThe Journal of Infection in Developing CountriesJournal of Infection in Developing Countries1972-26802021-08-01150810.3855/jidc.13924Antibiotic prescription in primary care from the perspective of family physicians: a qualitative studySalih Hosoglu0Annika Yanina Classen1Zekeriya Akturk2Working Group Cohorts in Infection Research, Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Cologne, GermanyWorking Group Cohorts in Infection Research, Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Cologne, GermanyMunich Technical University, Department of Family Medicine, Munich, Germany Introduction: Antibiotic consumption increases worldwide steadily. Turkey is now top on the list of global consumption and became a prototype of excessive use of antibiotics. In the last two decades, family physicians (FPs) have become key figures in the healthcare system. This study aims to understand the reasons for inappropriate antibiotic prescribing and elicit suggestions for improving antibiotic use in primary care from doctors themselves. Methodology: This is a qualitative semi-structured interview study with research dialogues guided by the Vancouver School of interpretive phenomenology. Fourteen FPs from different parts of Turkey were questioned on inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions and their suggestions for improving antibiotic use. Results: The most important reasons for prescribing antibiotics without acceptable indications were patient expectations, defensive medical decision making, constraints due to workload, and limited access to laboratories. The most remarkable inference was the personal feeling of an insecure job environment of the FPs. The most potent suggestions for improving the quality of antibiotic prescription were public campaigns, improvements in the diagnostic infrastructures of primary care centers, and enhancing the social status of FPs. The FPs expressed strong concerns related to the complaints that patients make to administrative bodies. Conclusions: Primary care physicians work under immense pressure, stemming mainly from workload, patient expectations, and obstacles related to diagnostic processes. Improving the social status of physicians, increasing public awareness, and the facilitation of diagnostic procedures was the methods suggested for increasing antibiotic prescription accuracy. https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/13924Family practiceQualitative researchAntibiotic prescribingInappropriate usePhenomenology |
| spellingShingle | Salih Hosoglu Annika Yanina Classen Zekeriya Akturk Antibiotic prescription in primary care from the perspective of family physicians: a qualitative study Journal of Infection in Developing Countries Family practice Qualitative research Antibiotic prescribing Inappropriate use Phenomenology |
| title | Antibiotic prescription in primary care from the perspective of family physicians: a qualitative study |
| title_full | Antibiotic prescription in primary care from the perspective of family physicians: a qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Antibiotic prescription in primary care from the perspective of family physicians: a qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Antibiotic prescription in primary care from the perspective of family physicians: a qualitative study |
| title_short | Antibiotic prescription in primary care from the perspective of family physicians: a qualitative study |
| title_sort | antibiotic prescription in primary care from the perspective of family physicians a qualitative study |
| topic | Family practice Qualitative research Antibiotic prescribing Inappropriate use Phenomenology |
| url | https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/13924 |
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