Skip to main content

Table 1 Participants’ coping strategies toward URTIs

From: Understanding determinants of patients’ decisions to attend their family physician and to take antibiotics for upper respiratory tract infections: a qualitative descriptive study

 

Themes (number of individuals)

Quotes

Self-

management

• Used OTC medications (13)

• Took a lot of water (4)

• Took warm liquids such as tea with honey or lemon and soup (6)

• Took multivitamins or Vitamin C (2)

• Took more rest or sleep (5)

• Gargled water with salt (1)

• Took fresh air (1)

“I just drink a lot of water and try to get a lot of rest and not do too much and they usually go away; it’s pretty quick.” (P2)

“I just go home, crawl in bed and wait ‘til it’s over.” (P3)

“I drink an awful lot of water; an awful lot of liquids like especially warm liquids that make you feel better.” (P4)

Visiting a doctor

• Expected to receive a physical examination (4)

• Sought a prescription for inhaler (3)

• Sought an explanation for getting worse (3)

• Asked if antibiotics are needed (2)

• Interested to know doctor’s opinion (1)

“I’m going to have his assessment as to whether it’s an infection or just an ordinary cold.” (P15)

“Well honestly I’m hoping that there’s nothing wrong with me, but sort of an explanation of why the symptoms are getting worse; if my doctor can figure that out or give me like a reason why they were getting worse.” (P2)

“I kind of wait a couple of days like 4–5 days. If I’m not feeling better, then I go to a doctor and have them listen to my lungs.” (P4)

“Doctor at least can look at me and listen to my lungs and can tell me if it’s viral or if it’s bacterial.” (P1)

Problem-focused coping

• Getting a refill for an inhaler (2)

• Asking if antibiotics are needed in case of green secretions from nose or throat (2)

• Having difficulty managing the fever with Acetaminophen/Ibuprofen (2)

• Long-lasting cough (4)

“He can’t do anything for a general cold but, but if you get an infection in your chest, they give antibiotics for that. So, I’m going to have his assessment.” (P15)

“I have a puffer at home, if I need a refill, I ask the doctor for a new prescription and it usually helps with the coughing” (P4)

“I take the cough syrup and do my best and if it continues and I can’t manage it then I go to the doctors” (P8)

Using antibiotics

• Believed antibiotics are not needed for URTIs (9)

• Would ask for antibiotics if the symptoms became severe (4)

• Used left over antibiotics (1)

“I always ask if it’s necessary to get antibiotics. If I don’t need, that’s right I, I’m happy and I will take care of myself.” (P1)

In my case because it gets into my chest, if I have any prophylactic, if I have any Amoxicillin or something left over from the last course which I know I’m not supposed to do I’ll take that. That doesn’t treat it, doesn’t make it go away faster, but it makes it feel better. It’s not a good thing to do for 2 reasons: 1) it’s probably not helping my cold, 2) I should have taken the full course of medication he gave me the last time.” (P15)