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Over 25% of people lie to get antibiotics—and their lies aren't even good

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 30/10/2026, 21:13:23 UTC.

Briefings

Two studies published in JAMA Network Open reveal that over 25% of US adults lie to doctors about antibiotic prescriptions, often exaggerating viral symptoms like colds to mask bacterial infections. Researchers led by Alistair Thorpe at the University of Utah analyzed over 1,000 online surveys, finding that while these lies are common, they frequently involve symptoms that antibiotics cannot treat. The findings suggest a significant gap between patient intentions and clinical outcomes, though the specific impact on treatment success remains under investigation.

Key points

• Over 25% of US adults lie to doctors about antibiotic prescriptions, with over a quarter reporting at least one instance of exaggerating symptoms.
• The most common lies involve symptoms of viral infections like colds, fever, or sore throat, which are not treated by antibiotics.

Context

Research from the University of Utah analyzed over 1,000 online surveys to investigate antibiotic prescription fraud in the US. The study, published in JAMA Network Open, highlights a pattern where patients intentionally misrepresent symptoms to obtain prescriptions for medications that do not address the actual cause of illness.

Limitations

Data covers only adults in the US via online surveys, limiting generalizability. The study identifies the prevalence of lies but does not provide data on treatment success rates or long-term health outcomes.

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