Factors Affecting Decision-Making on Antibiotic Use for Upper Respiratory Infections Among General Practitioners and Patients in the Northern Dutch-German Border Area: A Qualitative Analysis

Category	Detail
Condition	Upper Respiratory Tract Infections (URTIs)
Key Mechanisms	Influence of patient expectations, GP experience, and socio-economic factors on antibiotic prescribing.
Target Population	General practitioners and patients in the Ems-Dollart region (Northern Netherlands and Northern Germany).
Care Setting	Primary care

Antimicrobial resistance is a significant global health threat, exacerbated by inappropriate antibiotic use.
Only 15% of URTIs are bacterial, yet antibiotics are often overprescribed.
Patient pressure and perceived expectations influence GPs' prescribing decisions.
Cultural differences exist in antibiotic prescribing practices between the Netherlands and Germany.
The study aims to explore decision-making processes in antibiotic prescriptions for URTIs.

Assess URTIs primarily based on clinical symptoms, considering the low incidence of bacterial causes.

Implement strict guidelines to reduce unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions for URTIs.

Evaluate antibiotic prescribing patterns and adherence to guidelines in primary care settings.

Inappropriate antibiotic use can lead to increased antimicrobial resistance and treatment complications.

Patients diagnosed with or experiencing symptoms of URTIs in the Ems-Dollart region.

Understanding patient demographics and expectations is crucial for effective antibiotic stewardship.

Encourage shared decision-making between GPs and patients regarding antibiotic use.
Educate patients about the nature of URTIs and the limited role of antibiotics.
Foster communication to align GP assumptions with actual patient expectations.

Clinical Scorecard: Factors Affecting Decision-Making on Antibiotic Use for Upper Respiratory Infections Among General Practitioners and Patients in the Northern Dutch-German Border Area: A Qualitative Analysis