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Table 5 GPs opinion of delayed prescribing as a reasonable strategy

From: Use and feasibility of delayed prescribing for respiratory tract infections: A questionnaire survey

 

Total

(%)

Wait-and-see Rx

very reasonable

(%) (n = 210)

Wait-and-see Rx

not very reasonable

(%) (n = 94)

Very

reasonable

%

P-value a

Diagnosis group n = 304

   Upper respiratory tract symptoms and infections

60

(20)

35

(17)

25

(27)

58

0,044*

   Lower respiratory tract infections

41

(14)

20

(10)

21

(22)

49

0,002*

   Ear infections

65

(21)

50

(24)

15

(16)

77

0,12

   Sinusitis

101

(33)

80

(38)

21

(22)

79

0,007*

   Acute tonsillitis

24

(8)

17

(8)

7

(7)

71

0,85

   Other respiratory diagnoses

13

(4)

8

(4)

5

(5)

62

0,55

GP's reason for giving delayed prescription n = 304

   Uncertainty about indication for antibiotics

211

(69)

151

(72)

60

(64)

72

0,16

   Other reason

44

(14)

34

(16)

10

(11)

77

0,2

   Uncertainty about diagnose

32

(11)

22

(10)

10

(11)

69

0,97

   Difficulties with follow up

29

(10)

19

(9)

10

(11)

66

0,66

   Disagreement with the patient

12

(4)

3

(1)

9

(10)

25

0,001*

GP's expectation n = 304

   Patient is likely to take antibiotics

51

(17)

29

(14)

22

(23)

57

0,039*

   Patient is not likely to take antibiotics

131

(43)

100

(48)

31

(33)

76

0,017*

   Uncertain

122

(40)

81

(39)

41

(44)

66

0,41

GP's impression of patient's antibiotics expectation n = 303 (209/94)

   Patient expected antibiotics

73

(24)

47

(22)

26

(28)

64

0,32

   Patient did not expect antibiotics

150

(50)

104

(50)

46

(49)

69

0,93

   Uncertain

80

(26)

58

(28)

22

(23)

73

0,44

Grouped age (years) n = 304

   Less than 16

100

(33)

69

(33)

31

(33)

69

 

   16-59

180

(59)

124

(59)

56

(60)

69

0,98

   60 and over

24

(8)

17

(8)

7

(7)

71

 

Gender n = 304

   Female

204

(67)

139

(66)

65

(69)

68

0,61

   Male

100

(33)

71

(34)

29

(31)

71

 
  1. a Pearson chi-square.