A survey was conducted to evaluate whether the prescribing of antibiotics influences the duration of doctors' visits for children presenting with colds or bronchitis. The mean duration of visits during which antibiotics were prescribed was 14.24 minutes, as compared with 14.18 minutes for visits during which antibiotics were not prescribed. Previous studies have shown that patient satisfaction and the likelihood of switching physicians are not affected by the receipt of an antibiotic.

Comment: The reason this study was performed is that many physicians fear that if they do not prescribe antibiotics their patients will go to other doctors or they will have to spend time explaining to patients why the antibiotic is unnecessary. While the results of the new study should allay such fears, the fact that these fears exist at all is disturbing. Are there doctors who would prescribe an antibiotic that is not indicated and that costs money and that might cause adverse effects and that might promote the development of resistant organisms, just because they don't want to spend time explaining why the drug is not necessary? Would some doctors rather practice bad medicine than risk losing their patients to other doctors? It has always seemed to me that doctors who look out for the welfare of their patients and respect their intelligence and judgment will have satisfied patients, regardless of whether or not the doctor agrees with the patients' preconceived notions about what treatments are appropriate.

Coco A, et al. Relation of time spent in an encounter with the use of antibiotics in pediatric office visits for viral respiratory infections. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2005;159:1145-1149.