IMGs more likely to prescribe unnecessary Antibiotics

This was one of the inferences drawn by a study conducted by Montreal's McGill University and at Montreal General Hospital, Canada. International medical graduates were more likely to prescribe antibiotics for viral upper respiratory infections, which do not respond to antibiotics. IMG is a relative term, and the paper found that this applied more to Non-US and Non-British IMGs in Canada

The paper available for free on the Canadian Medical Association Journal, enlists four hypothesis to explain the findings:

1. Improper training
2. More time in practice = More likely to prescribe antibiotics and softening to patient demands
3. Physician training environment and cultural expectations in the IMG country
4. IMGs tend to cut down on patient-physician interaction and give out medicines quick to send the patient home fast


I sorta agree with the third point here and I see some truth in that - at least in some rural parts in India - often a doctor who does not prescribe any drugs at all is considered 'useless' by a patient ..lol - which makes many physicians at least prescribe vitamins if they don't have anything real to prescribe, than to lose the patient to another doctor down the block who will do the favor. There are no complex HMO or Preferred Provider networks out there to tie them to a particular physician, patients are free to go to any doc


Read the paper here

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Is ur mindset flexible enough to ?