Clinical question
Does written information for patients (or parents of child patients) reduce the use of antibiotics for acute upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) in primary care?
Bottom line
Providing a booklet and explanation by a specially trained doctor reduced the number of antibiotics children consumed by 20% (from 42% to 22%) without affecting parent satisfaction with the consultation or numbers of return visits for the same illness. Compared with the doctor’s usual practice, 2 studies showed that providing a booklet reduced the proportion of children prescribed an antibiotic by 9% to 21%. When doctors were also given feedback on their antibiotic prescribing, along with providing a booklet to parents, the proportion of children prescribed an antibiotic increased by 6% (from 44% to 50%).
Caveat
None of the included studies assessed if people were better informed, how long symptoms lasted or if people had complications.
Context
Acute URTIs are frequently managed in primary care settings. Although many are viral, and there is an increasing problem with antibiotic resistance, antibiotics continue to be prescribed for URTIs. Written patient information may be a simple way to reduce antibiotic use for acute URTIs.
Cochrane Systematic Review
O’Sullivan JW et al. Written information for patients (or parents of child patients) to reduce the use of antibiotics for acute upper respiratory tract infections in primary care. Cochrane Reviews, 2016, Issue 11. Art. No.: CD011360.DOI: 10.1002/14651858. CD011360.pub2. This review contains 2 studies involving 827 participants.
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