A diagnostic tool for sore throats that can be used during the physician–patient interaction has been a long time coming and has clinical value.1 However, the real utility of the tool may not be in its diagnostic accuracy. The patient may feel that his or her illness experience is receiving immediate validation when he or she witnesses the rigour the physician applies to assessing the sore throat with a multi-item test; this may result in a decreased desire for an antibiotic. The siren call of empathic prescribing for perceived patient demand will eventually be thwarted by adjustments to interpersonal relations rather than enhanced diagnostic testing.
Signature
Jarold L. Cosby
Senior Research Analyst Centre for Evaluation of Medicines St. Joseph's Hospital Hamilton, Ont.
Reference
- 1.McIsaac WJ, Goel V, To T, Low DE. The validity of a sore throat score in family practice. CMAJ 2000;163(7):811-5. [PMC free article] [PubMed]