Physicians Disregard Ear Ache Treatment Guidelines: New Study
Most physicians don't follow professional standards for treating ear aches in children, according to a new study published in the journal Pediatrics. New treatment guidelines were jointly established by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians in 2004, endorsing a non-antibiotic "observation option" for all children older than two who lack severe infection symptoms.
Researchers tested physicians' adherence to the guideline with two surveys -- one in 2004 and another in 2006. In both surveys, approximately 80% of physicians agreed that the standard was medically sound, but only about 15% followed it, indicating that they typically prescribed antibiotics far more often than was appropriate. The cost and inconvenience of follow-up appointments and parental resistance were the most commonly cited reasons for ignoring the standard.
Though this study is new, patient demand for antibiotics to treat viral infections is not a new phenomenon. The New York State Department of Health, for instance, regularly issues "Viral Prescriptions" to ear ache patients -- informative sheets detailing why antibiotics are inappropriate and potentially dangerous for their illness.
Previously on the D.C. Metro Area Medical Malpractice Law Blog, we have posted articles related to:
- A study demonstrating antibiotic ineffectiveness in pediatric urinary tract infections
- Potentially unsafe instances of over-the-phone antibiotic prescriptions
- Giving antiobiotics to infants increases asthma risk
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