Delayed antibiotic prescription for upper respiratory tract infections in children under primary care: Physicians' views

Camilla Flintholm Raft; Lars Bjerrum; Magnus Arpi; Jens Otto Jarløv; Jette Nygaard Jensen

doi:10.1080/13814788.2017.1347628

Delayed antibiotic prescription for upper respiratory tract infections in children under primary care: Physicians' views

Camilla Flintholm Raft, Lars Bjerrum, Magnus Arpi, Jens Otto Jarløv, Jette Nygaard Jensen

9 Citations (Scopus)

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Overprescribing antibiotics for common or inaccurately diagnosed childhood infections is a frequent problem in primary healthcare in most countries. Delayed antibiotic prescriptions have been shown to reduce the use of antibiotics in primary healthcare.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to examine primary care physicians' views on delayed antibiotic prescriptions to preschool children with symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs).

METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to 1180 physicians working in general practice in the Capital Region of Denmark, between January and March 2015. The questions focused on physicians' attitude and use of delayed antibiotic prescriptions to children with URTIs.

RESULTS: The response rate was 49% (n = 574). Seven per cent of the physicians often used delayed prescriptions to children with symptoms of URTI, but 46% believed that delayed prescription could reduce antibiotic use. The physicians' views on delayed antibiotic prescription were significantly associated with their number of years working in general practice. Parents' willingness to wait-and-see, need for reassurance, and knowledge about antibiotics influenced the physicians' views. Also, clinical symptoms and signs, parents' willingness to shoulder the responsibility, the capability of observation without antibiotic treatment, and structural factors like out-of-hour services were relevant factors in the decision.

CONCLUSIONS: Most physicians, especially those with fewer years of practice, had a positive attitude towards delayed antibiotic prescription. Several factors influence the views of the physicians-from perceptions of parents to larger structural elements and years of experience.

Original language	English
Journal	The European Journal of General Practice
Volume	23
Issue number	1
Pages (from-to)	191-196
Number of pages	6
ISSN	1381-4788
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/13814788.2017.1347628
Publication status	Published - 2 Oct 2017

Keywords

antibacterial agents
antibiotic prescription
children
General practice
respiratory tract infections

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10.1080/13814788.2017.1347628Licence: CC BY

Delayed antibiotic prescription for upper respiratory tract infections in children under primary care Physicians viewsFinal published version, 875 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

@article{78a3505b1d15414eb30d0a6a448b9671,

title = "Delayed antibiotic prescription for upper respiratory tract infections in children under primary care: Physicians' views",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: Overprescribing antibiotics for common or inaccurately diagnosed childhood infections is a frequent problem in primary healthcare in most countries. Delayed antibiotic prescriptions have been shown to reduce the use of antibiotics in primary healthcare.OBJECTIVE: The aim was to examine primary care physicians' views on delayed antibiotic prescriptions to preschool children with symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs).METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to 1180 physicians working in general practice in the Capital Region of Denmark, between January and March 2015. The questions focused on physicians' attitude and use of delayed antibiotic prescriptions to children with URTIs.RESULTS: The response rate was 49% (n = 574). Seven per cent of the physicians often used delayed prescriptions to children with symptoms of URTI, but 46% believed that delayed prescription could reduce antibiotic use. The physicians' views on delayed antibiotic prescription were significantly associated with their number of years working in general practice. Parents' willingness to wait-and-see, need for reassurance, and knowledge about antibiotics influenced the physicians' views. Also, clinical symptoms and signs, parents' willingness to shoulder the responsibility, the capability of observation without antibiotic treatment, and structural factors like out-of-hour services were relevant factors in the decision.CONCLUSIONS: Most physicians, especially those with fewer years of practice, had a positive attitude towards delayed antibiotic prescription. Several factors influence the views of the physicians-from perceptions of parents to larger structural elements and years of experience.",

keywords = "antibacterial agents, antibiotic prescription, children, General practice, respiratory tract infections",

author = "{Flintholm Raft}, Camilla and Lars Bjerrum and Magnus Arpi and Jarl{\o}v, {Jens Otto} and Jensen, {Jette Nygaard}",

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T1 - Delayed antibiotic prescription for upper respiratory tract infections in children under primary care

T2 - Physicians' views

AU - Flintholm Raft, Camilla

AU - Bjerrum, Lars

AU - Arpi, Magnus

AU - Jarløv, Jens Otto

AU - Jensen, Jette Nygaard

PY - 2017/10/2

Y1 - 2017/10/2

N2 - BACKGROUND: Overprescribing antibiotics for common or inaccurately diagnosed childhood infections is a frequent problem in primary healthcare in most countries. Delayed antibiotic prescriptions have been shown to reduce the use of antibiotics in primary healthcare.OBJECTIVE: The aim was to examine primary care physicians' views on delayed antibiotic prescriptions to preschool children with symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs).METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to 1180 physicians working in general practice in the Capital Region of Denmark, between January and March 2015. The questions focused on physicians' attitude and use of delayed antibiotic prescriptions to children with URTIs.RESULTS: The response rate was 49% (n = 574). Seven per cent of the physicians often used delayed prescriptions to children with symptoms of URTI, but 46% believed that delayed prescription could reduce antibiotic use. The physicians' views on delayed antibiotic prescription were significantly associated with their number of years working in general practice. Parents' willingness to wait-and-see, need for reassurance, and knowledge about antibiotics influenced the physicians' views. Also, clinical symptoms and signs, parents' willingness to shoulder the responsibility, the capability of observation without antibiotic treatment, and structural factors like out-of-hour services were relevant factors in the decision.CONCLUSIONS: Most physicians, especially those with fewer years of practice, had a positive attitude towards delayed antibiotic prescription. Several factors influence the views of the physicians-from perceptions of parents to larger structural elements and years of experience.

AB - BACKGROUND: Overprescribing antibiotics for common or inaccurately diagnosed childhood infections is a frequent problem in primary healthcare in most countries. Delayed antibiotic prescriptions have been shown to reduce the use of antibiotics in primary healthcare.OBJECTIVE: The aim was to examine primary care physicians' views on delayed antibiotic prescriptions to preschool children with symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs).METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to 1180 physicians working in general practice in the Capital Region of Denmark, between January and March 2015. The questions focused on physicians' attitude and use of delayed antibiotic prescriptions to children with URTIs.RESULTS: The response rate was 49% (n = 574). Seven per cent of the physicians often used delayed prescriptions to children with symptoms of URTI, but 46% believed that delayed prescription could reduce antibiotic use. The physicians' views on delayed antibiotic prescription were significantly associated with their number of years working in general practice. Parents' willingness to wait-and-see, need for reassurance, and knowledge about antibiotics influenced the physicians' views. Also, clinical symptoms and signs, parents' willingness to shoulder the responsibility, the capability of observation without antibiotic treatment, and structural factors like out-of-hour services were relevant factors in the decision.CONCLUSIONS: Most physicians, especially those with fewer years of practice, had a positive attitude towards delayed antibiotic prescription. Several factors influence the views of the physicians-from perceptions of parents to larger structural elements and years of experience.

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Delayed antibiotic prescription for upper respiratory tract infections in children under primary care: Physicians' views

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