Is Australia ready to implement delayed prescribing in primary care? A review of the evidence

Lucy Sargent; Amanda McCullough; Chris B Del Mar; John B Lowe

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Is Australia ready to implement delayed prescribing in primary care? A review of the evidence

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Is Australia ready to implement delayed prescribing in primary care? A review of the evidence

Lucy Sargent, Amanda McCullough, Chris B Del Mar and John B Lowe

Australian Family Physician, Vol.45(9), pp.688-690

2016

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Abstract

Public Health and Health Services

Clinical Sciences

Background: Antibiotic resistance is a major global public health threat. Most antibiotic prescriptions for human consumption in primary care are for acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs). Australia continues to be a high prescriber of antibiotics, compared with other Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. Implementation of evidence-based strategies to reduce antibiotic use in primary care is needed. Delayed prescribing is one evidence-based strategy that is underused. Objective/s: This article describes delayed prescribing, the evidence for its effectiveness, how it works, how it could be implemented in Australia and what individual general practitioners (GPs) can do. Discussion: Delayed prescribing, also called 'wait-and-see prescribing', is the process whereby a GP makes an antibiotic prescription available during the consultation, but asks the patient to delay its use to see if symptoms will resolve first. Evidence indicates that delayed prescribing is an effective strategy for reducing antibiotic use but requires implementation. Individual GPs can begin to use this strategy as a method of treating patients with ARTIs.

Details

Title: Is Australia ready to implement delayed prescribing in primary care? A review of the evidence
Authors: Lucy Sargent (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Amanda McCullough (Author) - Bond University
Chris B Del Mar (Author) - Bond University
John B Lowe (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Publication details: Australian Family Physician, Vol.45(9), pp.688-690
Publisher: Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
Date published: 2016
ISSN: 0300-8495
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Health and Sport Sciences - Legacy; External; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99450927402621
Output Type: Journal article

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