Prescribing antibiotics for respiratory tract infections by GPs: management and prescriber characteristics

BACKGROUND: Due to clinical and non-clinical factors, considerable variation exists in the prescribing of antibiotics for respiratory tract infections (RTIs) by GPs based in the Netherlands. AIM: To assess, in patients with RTIs in Dutch general practice: the prescribing rates of antibiotics; the relationship between GP characteristics and antibiotic prescribing; and the type of antibiotics prescribed. DESIGN OF STUDY: Descriptive and prognostic. SETTING: Eighty-four GPs in the middle region of the Netherlands. METHOD: All patient consultations for RTIs were registered by 84 GPs during 3 weeks... Mehr ...