Abstract | OBJECTIVE: To assess the quality of antibiotic prescribing by Victorian general practitioners, and the effectiveness of educational intervention techniques in improving prescribing. DESIGN: A randomised, controlled, parallel group trial. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: In rural and metropolitan Victoria, 182 general practitioners (78 control, 104 intervention) began and 103 (41 control, 62 intervention) completed the study. INTERVENTION: Participants recorded their antibiotic prescribing for tonsillitis. The intervention group received an educational mailing campaign. A project pharmacist visited each doctor to discuss campaign messages. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: RESULTS: In the intervention group, prescriptions consistent with recommendations in the guidelines increased from 60.5% before the campaign to 87.7% afterwards. Improvement also occurred in the control group, from 52.9% to 71.7% of prescriptions. The improvement within the intervention group was significantly greater than that within the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The educational campaign significantly improved the prescribing of appropriate antibiotics for tonsillitis by general practitioners.
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Authors | G De Santis, K J Harvey, D Howard, M L Mashford, R F Moulds |
Journal | The Medical journal of Australia
(Med J Aust)
Vol. 160
Issue 8
Pg. 502-5
(Apr 18 1994)
ISSN: 0025-729X [Print] Australia |
PMID | 8170427
(Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Anti-Bacterial Agents
(therapeutic use)
- Drug Prescriptions
(standards)
- Drug Utilization
- Education, Medical, Continuing
(methods)
- Family Practice
(education, standards)
- Humans
- Practice Guidelines as Topic
- Practice Patterns, Physicians'
(standards)
- Quality of Health Care
- Tonsillitis
(drug therapy)
- Victoria
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