The Journal of family practice
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To examine the relation between parent expectations for antibiotics, parent communication behaviors, and physicians' perceptions of parent expectations for antibiotics. ⋯ Parents perceived as expecting antibiotics may be seeking reassurance that their child is not seriously ill or that they were correct to obtain medical care. Physicians were significantly more likely to perceive parents as expecting antibiotics if they used certain communication behaviors. This study revealed an incongruity between parents' reported expectations, their communication behaviors, and physicians' perceptions of parents' expectations.