Public Health
Volume 120, Issue 8 , Pages 752-759 , August 2006

Reducing variation in antibacterial prescribing rates for ‘cough/cold’ and sore throat between 1993 and 2001: Regional analyses using the general practice research database

  • S. Smith

      Affiliations

    • Regional Surveillance Unit, Health Protection Agency West Midlands, Birmingham, UK
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Regional Surveillance Unit, Health Protection Agency West Midlands, 9th Floor, Ladywood House, 45 Stephenson Street, Birmingham, B2 404, UK. Tel.: +4401216348757; fax: +4401216348776.
    • ,
  • G.E. Smith

      Affiliations

    • Regional Surveillance Unit, Health Protection Agency West Midlands, Birmingham, UK
    • ,
  • H. Heatlie

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medicines Management, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire, UK
    • ,
  • J.N.R. Bashford

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medicines Management, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire, UK
    • ,
  • D.M. Ashcroft

      Affiliations

    • School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
    • ,
  • N.Q. Verlander

      Affiliations

    • Health Protection Agency Centre for Infections, London, UK
    • ,
  • G.J. Duckworth

      Affiliations

    • Health Protection Agency Centre for Infections, London, UK
    • ,
  • B. Mason

      Affiliations

    • CDSC Wales, Roath, Cardiff, UK
    • ,
  • B. Smyth

      Affiliations

    • Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre (NI), Belfast City Hospital, Belfast, UK
    • ,
  • S. Maxwell

      Affiliations

    • Clinical Pharmacology Unit, University of Edinburgh, Queen's Medical Research Institute, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

Received 9 March 2005 ,Revised 13 January 2006 ,Accepted 15 February 2006.

References 

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  2. Standing medical advisory committee sub-group on anti-microbial resistance. The path of least resistance. London: Department of Health; 1998;
  3. Woodhead M, Fleming D, Wise R. Antibiotics, resistance and clinical outcomes. BMJ. 2004;328:1270–1271
  4. Fleming DM, Ross AM, Cross KW, Kendall H. The reducing incidence of respiratory tract infection and its relation to antibiotic prescribing. Br J Gen Pract. 2003;53:778–783
  5. Ashworth M, Latinovic R, Charlton J, Cox K, Rowlands G, Gulliford M. Why has antibiotic prescribing for respiratory illness declined in primary care? A longitudinal study using the General Practice Research Database. J Public Health (Oxford). 2004;26:268–274
  6. House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology. Resistance to antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents. 7th report, Session 1997–1998. London: The Stationery Office; 1998. p. 1–108.
  7. NHS Executive. Resistance to antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents. Health Service Circular 1999/049. London: Department of Health; 1999.
  8. Majeed A, Evans N, Head P. What can PACT data tell us about prescribing in general practice?. BMJ. 1997;315:1515–1519
  9. Hepburn A. The interpretation and use of PACT. Prescr J. 1991;31:49–56
  10. McNulty CA. Optimising antibiotic prescribing in primary care. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2001;18:329–333
  11. Gross PA, Pujat D. Implementing practice guidelines for appropriate antimicrobial usage: a systematic review. Medical Care. 2001;39(8 Suppl 2):II55–II69
  12. Smith GE, Smith S, Heatlie H, Bashford JNR, Hawker J, Ashcroft D, et al. What has happened to antimicrobial usage in primary care in the United Kingdom since the SMAC report?—description of trends in antimicrobial usage using the General Practice Research Database. J Public Health (Oxford). 2004;26:359–364
  13. British National Formulary (BNF 48). British Medical Association and Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain; September 2004.
  14. Altman DG. Practical statistics for medical research. London: Chapman & Hall; 1991;
  15. Jick SS, Kaye JA, Vasilakis-Scaramozza C, Garcia Rodriguez LA, Ruigomez A, Meier CR, et al. Validity of the general practice research database. Pharmacotherapy. 2003;23:686–689
  16. Hansell A, Hollowell J, Nichols T, McNiece R, Strachan D. Use of the General Practice Research Database (GPRD) for respiratory epidemiology: a comparison with the fourth morbidity survey in general practice (MSGP4). Thorax. 1999;54:413–419
  17. Beardon PH, McGilchrist MM, McKendrick AD, McDevitt DG, MacDonald TM. Primary non-compliance with prescribed medication in primary care. BMJ. 1993;307:846–848
  18. Frischer M, Heatlie H, Norwood J, Bashford J, Millson D, Chapman S. Trends in antibiotic prescribing and associated indications in primary care from 1993 to 1997. J Public Health Med. 2001;23:69–73
  19. Ashcroft DM. Prescribing incentive schemes in primary care. Prescriber. 2003;14:21–26
  20. Kumar S, Little P, Britten N. Why do general practitioners prescribe antibiotics for sore throat? Grounded theory interview study. BMJ. 2003;326:138–141

PII: S0033-3506(06)00095-3

doi: 10.1016/j.puhe.2006.02.007

Public Health
Volume 120, Issue 8 , Pages 752-759 , August 2006

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