Study Finds Many Americans Faking Symptoms to Get Antibiotics
Patients Exaggerate Symptoms to Secure Antibiotics in National Survey
As Futurity pointed out, upwards of one in four Americans have fabricated or exaggerated symptoms to try to get antibiotics for themselves or their kids. A poll encompassing roughly 1,000 participants across the country revealed frequent incentives behind symptom distortion, such as feeling intensely ill or having to get back to school or employment. The results were published in JAMA Network Open in two separate papers.
- Twenty-eight percent of survey respondents admitted to deliberately misrepresenting symptoms to obtain antibiotics for themselves.
- A nearly identical proportion, 27%, reported exaggerating or inventing symptoms to secure the medications for a child in their care.
- Researchers attribute the behavior to feeling very sick, needing to return to work or school, and past experiences where symptoms were dismissed by a doctor.
Severe Illness and Work Pressures Drive Symptom Misrepresentation
University of Utah Health shared findings showing that respondents most frequently falsified symptoms because they or their children felt extremely sick and were convinced antibiotics offered the sole effective cure. Co-lead author Alistair Thorpe, research assistant professor of population health sciences at University of Utah Health, noted the difficulty of the situation.
It is a tough situation. People are experiencing unpleasant symptoms, and they can have this strong feeling that antibiotics are the only thing that can help them feel better. Being told to just rest and wait is a hard thing to do, and if you think there’s something that could make you feel better, it’s a very hard impulse to override.
Additional participants stated that they or their children needed a swift recovery to head back to employment or classes, while others expressed a wish to steer their own medical care. Financial and institutional backing for the study came from the American Heart Association, the University of Utah, the VA, the Veterans Health Administration, and the Health Systems Research Service.
Risks of Antibiotic Resistance and Misuse
Antibiotics are effective and important treatments for bacterial infections but do nothing against viral infections, which are the most common cause of cold- or flu-like symptoms. Like any medication, antibiotics carry a risk of side effects.
Andrea Levy, professor of social sciences at Connecticut State Community College Middlesex and co-author of the study, emphasized the broader public health concern. These medications are not totally benign for the patient,
Levy said, noting that antibiotic use contributes to increasing antimicrobial resistance.
The study found that patients’ reasons for misrepresenting symptoms are frequently grounded in past experiences. Individuals were more likely to overstate symptoms if they had previously had their symptoms dismissed or downplayed by a doctor. Being incorrectly prescribed antibiotics for a prior viral infection can create a powerful association between the drugs and feeling better, as viral infections typically clear up on their own.
Communication Strategies for Doctors and Patients
The results point to an urgent need for better communication strategies between physicians and patients so that individuals can feel confident their symptoms are taken seriously and treated appropriately. Angela Fagerlin, who serves as senior author on the studies alongside her roles as professor and chair of the population health sciences department at the University of Utah, stressed the importance of evaluating various communication approaches.
The practical takeaway centers on creating clinical interactions where patients and caregivers feel heard enough that they do not feel compelled to exaggerate their condition to receive attention. Researchers stress that the goal is not to cast blame on patients, but to rebuild trust and address underlying concerns transparently.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and scientific communication purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment plan.