Many U.S. Adults Do Not Follow Physician Recommendations, Survey Finds

About 27% of U.S. adults said they or immediate family members have not filled prescriptions because they considered the medications unnecessary, according to a recent Wall Street Journal Online/Harris Interactive survey, the Wall Street Journal Online reports. The online survey included responses from adults collected from March 5 through March 7. According to the survey, about one-fifth of respondents said they or immediate family members have sought second opinions, 13% have avoided diagnostic tests, 7% have decided not to undergo surgical procedures and 7% have switched physicians because they considered the recommendations of their physicians overly aggressive. Among respondents who said they or immediate family members did not follow the recommendations of their physicians, 89% said they experienced no negative effects, the survey found. The survey also found that 43% of respondents said they are concerned about overtreatment by physicians. About 52% of respondents said physicians overtreat patients because of concerns about medical malpractice lawsuits, 45% said "to make more money" and 44% said "to meet patient demands," the survey found (Wall Street Journal Online, 3/15).

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