Patients with Acute Respiratory Infections rely on communication practices that, whether intentionally or unintentionally, pressure physicians to inappropriately prescribe antibiotics.

Physicians can effectively address pre-diagnostic pressure by foreshadowing a non-antibiotic treatment outcomes while they can reduce resistance to non-antibiotic treatment with affirmatively designed counseling.

Physicians naturally relied on these practices showing that they are easy to use, but their frequency and strategic use can be improved making them important tools for combatting subtle patient pressure for antibiotics.