Does drug treatment of patients with acute bronchitis reduce additional care seeking? Evidence from the Practice Partner Research Network. Arch Fam Med 2000;9(10):997-1001
Date
12/15/2000Pubmed ID
11115198DOI
10.1001/archfami.9.10.997Scopus ID
2-s2.0-0034541639 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 8 CitationsAbstract
BACKGROUND: Considerable discussion has focused on treatment methods for patients with acute bronchitis.
OBJECTIVE: To examine whether antibiotic or bronchodilator treatment is associated with differences in follow-up visit rates for patients with acute bronchitis.
METHODS: A retrospective medical chart review was conducted for patients with a new episode of acute bronchitis over a 3-year period in the Practice Partner Research Network (29,248 episodes in 24,753 patients). Primary outcomes of interest were another visit in the next 14 days (early follow-up) or 15 to 28 days after initial treatment (late follow-up).
RESULTS: Antibiotics were used more commonly in younger patients (<18 years), whereas older patients (>65 years) were more likely to receive no treatment. Younger patients treated with antibiotics were less likely to return for an early follow-up visit, but no differences were seen in adults and older patients. Late follow-up rates were not affected by the initial treatment strategy. When patients did return for a follow-up visit, no new medication was prescribed to most (66% of younger patients and 78% of older adults). However, compared with patients who did not receive an antibiotic at their first visit, patients initially treated with an antibiotic were about 50% more likely to receive a new antibiotic at their second visit.
CONCLUSIONS: Initial prescribing of an antibiotic reduces early follow-up for acute bronchitis in younger patients but seems to have no effect in adults. However, reductions in future follow-up visits might be outweighed by increases in antibiotic consumption because patients who return for a follow-up visit seem to receive additional antibiotic prescriptions. Arch Fam Med. 2000;9:997-1001
Author List
Hueston WJ, Jenkins R, Mainous AG 3rdMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Acute DiseaseAdolescent
Adult
Aged
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Bronchitis
Bronchodilator Agents
Child
Humans
Middle Aged
Office Visits
Retrospective Studies
