A study published Monday finds that patients rated themselves happiest with their doctor’s visit when they got an antibiotic after seeking care for a respiratory tract infection, such as a common cold, whether they needed it or not. Researchers analyzed 8,437 appointments for these infections through American Well’s Online Care Group, a national provider of telemedicine services to consumers, and the results appear in JAMA Internal Medicine. Patients’ ratings of individual appointments contributed to their physician’s overall patient satisfaction scores.
