Why do general practitioners prescribe antibiotics for sore throat? Grounded theory interview study

Area of Science:

• General Practice
• Antibiotic Prescribing
• Sore Throat Management

Background:

• General practitioners (GPs) face challenges in deciding antibiotic prescriptions for sore throat.
• Understanding prescribing influences is crucial for antimicrobial stewardship.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the rationale behind GPs' antibiotic prescribing for sore throat.
• To identify factors influencing these prescribing decisions.

Main Methods:

• A grounded theory qualitative interview study.
• Involved 40 general practitioners across diverse backgrounds.
• Utilized maximum variety and theoretical sampling.

Main Results:

• GPs prescribe antibiotics for sicker patients and those from socioeconomically deprived backgrounds due to concerns about complications.
• Prescribing is higher in pressured clinical settings.
• GPs are generally confident in their decisions and do not prescribe primarily to maintain the doctor-patient relationship.

Conclusions:

• GP antibiotic prescribing for sore throat has decreased due to research and policy.
• Future interventions require improved identification of patients at risk of complications.
• Interventions must be practical for time-constrained clinical environments.