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Quality improvement
Delayed prescription reduced antibiotic use in the common cold

https://doi.org/10.1136/ebm.7.6.191

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    (2002) J Fam Pract 51, 324; Arroll B, Kenealy T, Kerse N.. Do delayed prescriptions reduce the use of antibiotics for the common cold? A single-blind controlled trial.. Apr;. :. –8..
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 QUESTION: In patients with upper respiratory tract infections (common cold), does delaying prescription reduce the use of antibiotics?

    Design

    Randomised {allocation concealed*}†, blinded (patients),* controlled trial with 10-day follow up.

    Setting

    A family practice with 15 physicians in Auckland, New Zealand.

    Patients

    129 patients (mean age 25 y, 63% women) presenting with a new cold in which the patient requested or the physician thought the patient wanted antibiotics. Exclusion criteria were suspected tonsillitis, sinusitis, bronchitis, or pneumonia; lower respiratory signs; indication for an x-ray; history of rheumatic fever; serious illness; or antibiotic treatment in the previous 2 weeks. 95% completed the …

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    Footnotes

    • Source of funding: Health Research Council.

    • For correspondence: Dr. B. Arroll, University of Auckland, New Zealand. Email b.arroll{at}auckland.ac.nz.

    • ↵* See glossary.

    • ↵† Information provided by author.