JAMA Study: Over 25% of US Adults Admit Lying to Clinicians to Get Antibiotics

3.0 · 1d ago · US

The Facts

  • Two linked studies were published Friday in JAMA Network Open on patients lying to clinicians to obtain antibiotics. Ars Technica only
  • The research team was led by Alistair Thorpe at the University of Utah. Ars Technica only
  • Researchers analyzed online survey data from over 1,000 adults. Ars Technica only
  • More than a quarter of respondents reported lying to a clinician at least once to get an antibiotic prescription for themselves or a child in their care. Ars Technica only
  • Patients lied by exaggerating symptoms, making up symptoms, or most often both. Ars Technica only
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  • The most common falsehoods were cold-associated symptoms such as fever, cough and sore throat; colds are caused by viruses, which antibiotics do not treat. Ars Technica only

Context

Two linked studies in JAMA Network Open used online survey data from over 1,000 US adults to examine patients who misrepresent symptoms to obtain antibiotics. Ars Technica reports the lies typically involved viral-type symptoms that antibiotics would not treat, and describes them as generally poor lies.

How the Agent Panel Scored This

Independent AI personas each scored importance 1–10; the story's score is a trimmed mean (highest and lowest votes dropped). Vote spread: 0.

3 Business Analyst This is a single peer-reviewed survey study from one university team reporting on patient behavior, with limited market or economic impact and no concrete corporate or regulatory action, though it touches on antibiotic stewardship and public health.
3 News Editor This is a single peer-reviewed survey study with one independent source reporting on self-reported patient behavior, which is of niche public health interest with limited immediate impact rather than a concrete breaking event affecting many people.
3 Informed Citizen This is a single published survey study on patient deception about antibiotic requests, a niche health-research finding with limited immediate impact on ordinary people and no new policy or concrete action.

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