Table 3.
Importance of Factors Influencing the Selection of Antibiotics for Patients with CAP
| Factor | Mean Rank All Physicians | Mean Rank by ID Specialists | Mean Rank by Generalists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Efficacy of the drug in treating community-acquired pneumonia | 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.8 |
| Patient severity of illness | 3.1 | 3.1 | 3.1 |
| Previous experience and knowledge about the drug | 4.1 | 4.3 | 4.0 |
| Potential side effects | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.4 |
| Ease of use | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.8 |
| Cost to patient | 4.9 | 5.2 | 4.5 |
| Risk of contributing to the problem of antibiotic resistance | 5.3 | 5.1 | 5.5 |
CAP, community-acquired pneumonia; ID, infectious diseases.