Dr. Linder’s research on curbing the dangerous overprescribing of
antibiotics suggests doctors do respond to certain electronic nudges and
feedback about what they are doing—especially when it involves
comparing how they stack up against their peers.
In the case of
antibiotics, despite clear guidelines to use the drugs only for
bacterial infections, doctors consistently prescribe them for viruses
like the flu.
A recent Pew Charitable Trusts report concluded that 30%
of antibiotic prescriptions are unnecessary, or nearly 47 million excess
prescriptions a year.
That’s despite years of warnings about the risk
of antibiotic resistance, where bacteria exposed to the drugs start
learning to outsmart them.
Overuse also exposes patients to unnecessary
risks and increases health-care costs studies show.
“The model
has been if we get people the right information they will do the right
thing; but, sad to say, it doesn’t work,” says Dr. Linder. “Doctors know
they should not prescribe antibiotics for colds and viral illnesses,
but if they are confronted by a sick patient who is a little bit anxious
and wants something for treatment,” they often prescribe the drugs.
Source: WSJ
