|
Patients have high risk perception of the threat of the disease and possible complication.
|
Patients have low risk-perception of the threat of the disease and of possible complications.
|
[19, 21, 27]
|
|
Patients feel confident only if they have a disease with a clear cause, label and treatment (defensive medicine).
|
Patients feel confident even in case of uncertainty, accepting that the GP has no specific diagnosis or that no treatment can be given.
|
[12]
|
|
Patients prefer a “rather safe than sorry” attitude.
|
Patients accept a “wait and see” attitude.
|
[12, 19, 27]
|
|
The illness is perceived as an evil phenomenon against which you should fight.
|
The illness is perceived as a natural phenomenon with a natural history to be respected.
|
[24]
|
|
GPs feel uncomfortable and are anxious of making mistakes.
|
GPs are aware of the dangers of a defensive attitude.
|
[12]
|
|
GPs see themselves as experts and feel the inner urge to “do something”; prescribe what’s considered to be the less risky for the patient on a short term basis.
|
GPs accept a degree of uncertainty and a “wait and see” approach.
|
[12]
|
|
Prescribing antibiotics decreases the fear linked to uncertainty of both the GP and the patient.
|
Prescribing antibiotics does not decrease uncertainty-related fear of the GP nor of the patient.
|
[12, 13, 19, 27]
|
