Journal article
Is Australia ready to implement delayed prescribing in primary care? A review of the evidence
Australian Family Physician, Vol.45(9), pp.688-690
2016
Abstract
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 EngineeringAmanda McCullough (Author) - Bond UniversityChris B Del Mar (Author) - Bond UniversityJohn 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
- ISSN
- 0300-8495
- Organisation Unit
- School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy; School of Health and Sport Sciences - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; External
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99450927402621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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