Poor Performance Among Trainees in a Dutch Postgraduate GP Training Program.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Poor performance among trainees is an important issue, for patient safety and economic reasons. While early identification might enhance remediation measures, we explored the frequency, nature, and risk factors of poor performance in a Dutch postgraduate general practitioner (GP) training program. METHODS: All trainees who started the GP training between 2005 and 2007 were included. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was applied to examine associations between individual characteristics; early assessments of competencies and knowledge, training process characteristics (eg, illness, maternal leave), and the outcome poor performance; sub-analyses were performed for each year. RESULTS: A total of 215 trainees started the 3-year GP program, and 49 (22.8%) exhibited poor performance (in one or more years). In the first and second years, problem areas among poor performers were equally distributed across the roles of "medical expert," "communicator," and "professional." In the third year, shortcomings in "professionalism" were the most common problem. Increasing age was a risk factor for poor performance as were insufficient scores in communication and knowledge. Poor performance in the previous year was a risk factor for poor performance in the second and third years; OR=4.20 (CI=1.31--13.47) and OR=5.40 (CI=1.58--18.47), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Poor performance is prevalent but primarily occurring within a single training year. This finding suggests that trainees are capable of solving trainee problems. Increasing age, insufficient assessment scores early in the training, and poor performance in a previous year constitute risk factors for poor performance.

Improving antibiotic prescribing quality by an intervention embedded in the primary care practice accreditation: the ARTI4 randomized trial.

OBJECTIVES: Antibiotic overprescribing is a significant problem. Multifaceted interventions improved antibiotic prescribing quality; their implementation and sustainability, however, have proved difficult. We analysed the effectiveness of an intervention embedded in the quality cycle of primary care practice accreditation on quantity and quality of antibiotic prescribing for respiratory tract and ear infections (RTIs). METHODS: This was a pragmatic, cluster-randomized intervention trial in 88 Dutch primary care practices. The intervention (physician education and audit/feedback on antibiotic prescribing quantity and quality) was integrated in practice accreditation by defining an improvement plan with respect to antibiotic prescribing for RTIs. Numbers and types of dispensed antibiotics were analysed from 1 year prior to the intervention to 2 years after the intervention (pharmacy data). Overprescribing, underprescribing and non-first-choice prescribing for RTIs were analysed at baseline and 1 year later (self-registration). RESULTS: There were significant differences between intervention and control practices in the changes in dispensed antibiotics/1000 registered patients (first year: -7.6% versus -0.4%, P = 0.002; second year: -4.3% versus +2%, P = 0.015), which was more pronounced for macrolides and amoxicillin/clavulanate (first year: -12.7% versus +2.9%, P = 0.001; second year: -7.8% versus +6.7%, P = 0.005). Overprescribing for RTIs decreased from 44% of prescriptions to 28% (P < 0.001). Most general practitioners (GPs) envisaged practice accreditation as a tool for guideline implementation. CONCLUSIONS: GP education and an audited improvement plan around antibiotics for RTIs as part of primary care practice accreditation sustainably improved antibiotic prescribing. Tools should be sought to further integrate and facilitate education and audit/feedback in practice accreditation.

A competency based selection procedure for Dutch postgraduate GP training: a pilot study on validity and reliability.

UNLABELLED: Abstract Background: Historically, semi-structured interviews (SSI) have been the core of the Dutch selection for postgraduate general practice (GP) training. This paper describes a pilot study on a newly designed competency-based selection procedure that assesses whether candidates have the competencies that are required to complete GP training. OBJECTIVES: The objective was to explore reliability and validity aspects of the instruments developed. METHODS: The new selection procedure comprising the National GP Knowledge Test (LHK), a situational judgement tests (SJT), a patterned behaviour descriptive interview (PBDI) and a simulated encounter (SIM) was piloted alongside the current procedure. Forty-seven candidates volunteered in both procedures. Admission decision was based on the results of the current procedure. RESULTS: Study participants did hardly differ from the other candidates. The mean scores of the candidates on the LHK and SJT were 21.9 % (SD 8.7) and 83.8% (SD 3.1), respectively. The mean self-reported competency scores (PBDI) were higher than the observed competencies (SIM): 3.7(SD 0.5) and 2.9(SD 0.6), respectively. Content-related competencies showed low correlations with one another when measured with different instruments, whereas more diverse competencies measured by a single instrument showed strong to moderate correlations. Moreover, a moderate correlation between LHK and SJT was found. The internal consistencies (intraclass correlation, ICC) of LHK and SJT were poor while the ICC of PBDI and SIM showed acceptable levels of reliability. CONCLUSION: Findings on content validity and reliability of these new instruments are promising to realize a competency based procedure. Further development of the instruments and research on predictive validity should be pursued.

Dutch postgraduate GP selection procedure; reliability of interview assessments.

BACKGROUND: Semi- structured interviews are the core of the Dutch selection procedure for postgraduate general practice (GP) training. A staff member, trainer and trainee independently assess personal qualities. Aiming to improve the selection procedure we were interested in the reliability aspects of these interviews. We investigated the inter-rater reliability of the interview for groups of two or three assessors and the degree to which candidates' characteristics and qualities assessed during interviews explained admission into GP training, controlled for differences between those who apply for the first versus the second or third application. METHODS: An observational study was conducted of all candidates who entered the Utrecht selection procedure between April 2008 and 2010. Candidates' characteristics and qualities were collected. Inter-rater reliability of different compositions of the interview group per quality was estimated. Factors associated with admission into GP training were assessed. RESULTS: The study population included 394 candidates. Twenty-six candidates were rejected based on their application letter (4.4%). Three candidates who applied more than 3 times were excluded. Ultimately, 206 of the 365 candidates were admitted to the GP training (56,4%). The inter-rater reliability was satisfactory (ICC: 0.78 - 0 .84). Reduction from three to two assessors slightly reduces the ICC. The candidates' qualities independently explained admission to GP training, whereas individual characteristics did not. These results did not differ for candidates who applied for the first time versus candidates applying for the second or third time. CONCLUSION: Selection interviews with two assessors yielded a satisfactory level of reliability. Individual characteristics were not associated with admission, whereas scores related to candidate qualities did show such an association. The results of those applying for the second or third time were similar.

Effectiveness of physician-targeted interventions to improve antibiotic use for respiratory tract infections.

BACKGROUND: Antibiotic use and concomitant resistance are increasing. Literature reviews do not unambiguously indicate which interventions are most effective in improving antibiotic prescribing practice. AIM: To assess the effectiveness of physician-targeted interventions aiming to improve antibiotic prescribing for respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in primary care, and to identify intervention features mostly contributing to intervention success. DESIGN AND SETTING: Analysis of a set of physician-targeted interventions in primary care. METHOD: A literature search (1990-2009) for studies describing the effectiveness of interventions aiming to optimise antibiotic prescription for RTIs by primary care physicians. Intervention features were extracted and effectiveness sizes were calculated. Association between intervention features and intervention success was analysed in multivariate regression analysis. RESULTS: This study included 58 studies, describing 87 interventions of which 60% significantly improved antibiotic prescribing; interventions aiming to decrease overall antibiotic prescription were more frequently effective than interventions aiming to increase first choice prescription. On average, antibiotic prescription was reduced by 11.6%, and first choice prescription increased by 9.6%. Multiple interventions containing at least 'educational material for the physician' were most often effective. No significant added value was found for interventions containing patient-directed elements. Communication skills training and near-patient testing sorted the largest intervention effects. CONCLUSION: This review emphasises the importance of physician education in optimising antibiotic use. Further research should focus on how to provide physicians with the relevant knowledge and tools, and when to supplement education with additional intervention elements. Feasibility should be included in this process.

Selection for Dutch postgraduate GP training; time for improvement.

BACKGROUND: In the Netherlands we select candidates for the postgraduate GP training by assessing personal qualities in interviews. Because of differences in the ratio of number of candidates and number of vacancies between the eight departments of GP training we questioned whether the risk of being rejected diverged amongst them. OBJECTIVE: The research question of this study was to which degree department of choice, candidates' characteristics and qualities assessed during interviews explain admission into GP training. METHODS: A nationwide observational study was conducted of all candidates who applied for postgraduate GP training in 2009/ 2010. Application ratio per department, candidates' characteristics (gender, age, region of medical school and times of application) and qualities (motivation, orientation on the job, personal attributes and learning needs) were collected. Outcome measures were admission to interview and admission to GP training. RESULTS: The study population addressed 542 candidates. Sixty three candidates were rejected on application letter (11.6%). So 479 candidates were admitted to the interview, of which 340 were admitted to the GP training (71%). Gender and region of medical school outside North West Europe were associated with admission to the interview. Department of choice had a strong association with admission in both stages (RR: 0.30 to 0.74; 0.20 to 0.79 respectively), while candidates' qualities explained admission (RR: 1.09- 1.25) as well. CONCLUSION: The influence of department of choice yields doubts about fairness of the procedure. So advantages and disadvantages of a national procedure are discussed as well as those of a competency based procedure.

Patient safety culture measurement in general practice. Clinimetric properties of 'SCOPE'.

BACKGROUND: A supportive patient safety culture is considered to be an essential condition for improving patient safety. Assessing the current safety culture in general practice may be a first step to target improvements. To that end, we studied internal consistency and construct validity of a safety culture questionnaire for general practice (SCOPE) which was derived from a comparable questionnaire for hospitals (Dutch-HSOPS). METHODS: The survey was conducted among caregivers of Dutch general practice as part of an ongoing quality accreditation process using a 46 item questionnaire. We conducted factor analyses and studied validity by calculating correlations between the subscales and testing the hypothesis that respondents' patient safety grade of their practices correlated with their scores on the questionnaire. RESULTS: Of 72 practices 294 respondents completed the questionnaire. Eight factors were identified concerning handover and teamwork, support and fellowship, communication openness, feedback and learning from error, intention to report events, adequate procedures and staffing, overall perceptions of patient safety and expectations and actions of managers. Cronbach's alpha of the factors rated between 0.64 and 0.85. The subscales intercorrelated moderately, except for the factor about intention to report events. Respondents who graded patient safety highly scored significantly higher on the questionnaire than those who did not. CONCLUSIONS: The SCOPE questionnaire seems an appropriate instrument to assess patient safety culture in general practice. The clinimetric properties of the SCOPE are promising, but future research should confirm the factor structure and construct of the SCOPE and delineate its responsiveness to changes in safety culture over time.

[Attrition and poor performance in general practice training: age, competence and knowledge play a role]. / Uitval en stagnatie in de opleiding tot huisarts. Leeftijd, competenties en kennis spelen een rol.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate which determinants are related to poor performance and forced attrition in the first year residency in general practice (GP). DESIGN: Observational retrospective cohort study. METHOD: We collected data relating to personal characteristics such as age, sex and clinical experience from residents who started the GP training in Utrecht, the Netherlands, in the period March 2005-August 2007. We also collected competence scores from the domains 'medical expertise', 'doctor-patient communication' and 'professionalism', as well as scores on a national GP knowledge test. The outcome measures were 'poor performance' and 'forced attrition'. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyse correlations between personal characteristics, competence scores on the 3 domains and knowledge scores in the first trimester on the one hand and poor performance or forced attrition on the other. RESULTS: 215 residents started the GP training. In the first trimester a quarter of the residents had an insufficient score in 1 or more of the domains. Competence scores were mutually correlated, but did not correlate with the knowledge score. 18 residents showed poor performance and 3 were forced to stop their training. Poor performance and forced attrition were correlated with age (adjusted odds ratio (OR): 1.1; 95% CI: 1.0-1.3), insufficient knowledge (adjusted OR: 8.9; 3.0-26.3) and medical expertise (adjusted OR: 2.1; 1.1-4.0) at the beginning of the training. CONCLUSION: Age, insufficient knowledge of general practice, and insufficient competence in the domain of 'medical expertise' at the beginning of the training are risk factors for poor performance by residents and attrition from their GP training.

Antibiotics for respiratory, ear and urinary tract disorders and consistency among GPs.

OBJECTIVES: To describe specific diagnoses for which systemic antibiotics are prescribed, to assess adherence of antibiotic choice to national guidelines and to assess consistency among general practitioners (GPs) in prescribed volumes of antibiotics for respiratory, ear and urinary tract disorders. METHODS: The cross-sectional study included 174 GPs from 89 general practices. Data were derived from the Second Dutch National Survey of General Practice (DNSGP-2) in 2001. Outcome measures were the antibiotic prescriptions for respiratory, ear and urinary tract disorders defined according to the International Classification of Primary Care codes, the percentage of first-choice antibiotics complying with national guidelines and the number of antibiotic prescriptions per 1000 patients per GP per year. RESULTS: The most antibiotics for respiratory tract infection (RTI) were prescribed for acute bronchitis (25%), sinusitis (22%) and acute upper RTI (14%). The most antibiotics were prescribed for acute otitis media (77% of ear disorders) and cystitis (95% of urinary tract disorders). First-choice antibiotics were prescribed in approximately 75% of the cases, whereas macrolides and amoxicillin/clavulanate (second-choice antibiotics) were prescribed in approximately 25%, especially in lower RTIs. The correlations (Spearman rho) between prescribed volumes for the three main groups of disorders varied from 0.39 to 0.67. CONCLUSIONS: GPs were consistent in prescribing antibiotics for the three groups of diseases. Improvement strategies should focus on the management of acute upper RTIs and acute bronchitis and also on the use of amoxicillin/clavulanate and macrolides, these being mostly second-choice antibiotics in national guidelines.

Characteristics of children consulting for cough, sore throat, or earache.

BACKGROUND: GPs are often consulted for respiratory tract symptoms in children. AIM: To explore characteristics of children, their parents, and their GPs that are correlated with consulting a GP for cough, sore throat, or earache. DESIGN OF STUDY: Second Dutch National Survey of General Practice (DNSGP-2) with a health interview and an additional questionnaire. SETTING: Children aged 0-17 years registered with 122 GPs in Dutch general practice. METHOD: Characteristics of patients and their GPs were derived from the DNSGP-2 health interview and a questionnaire, respectively. Characteristics of the illness symptoms and GP consultation were acquired by means of an additional questionnaire. Data were analysed using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Of all children who completed the questionnaire, 550 reported cough, sore throat, or earache in the 2 weeks preceding the interview with 147 of them consulting their GP. Young children more frequently consulted the GP for respiratory symptoms, as did children with fever, longer duration of symptoms, those reporting their health to be 'poor to good', and living in an urban area. When parents were worried, and when a child or their parents were cued by someone else, the GP was also consulted more often. GP-related determinants were not associated with GP consultation by children. CONCLUSION: This study emphasises the importance of establishing the reasons behind children with respiratory tract symptoms consulting their GP. When GPs are aware of possible determinants of the decision to consult a GP, more appropriate advice and reassurance can be given regarding these respiratory symptoms, which are generally self-limiting.

Antibiotics in Dutch general practice: nationwide electronic GP database and national reimbursement rates.

PURPOSE: In order to assess whether different databases generate information which can be reliable compared with each other, this study aimed to assess to which degree prescribing rates for systemic antibiotics from a nationwide electronic general practitioner (GP) database correspond with national reimbursement rates, and to investigate for which indications antibiotics are prescribed. METHODS: Nationwide GP prescribing data were collected from the Second Dutch National Survey of General Practice (DNSGP-2) based on 90 general practices serving 358 008 patients in 2001. Dutch national reimbursement rates for GPs were derived from claims data of the Dutch Drug Information System/Health Care Insurance Board (GIP/CVZ) from 2001. We calculated antibiotic prescribing rates per 1000 patients/inhabitants for each database, and these rates were compared for the total rates and according to antibiotic subgroups. Indications for which GPs prescribed antibiotics were described. RESULTS: In national reimbursement data, 339 antibiotic prescriptions per 1000 inhabitants were prescribed by GPs, while the nationwide GP database showed 255 prescriptions per 1000 patients (75% coverage with reimbursement rates). The nationwide GP database showed high volumes of sulphonamides & trimethoprim, and small volumes of macrolides and quinolones. Half of the prescriptions (48%) were prescribed for respiratory diseases, a quarter (26%) for urinary diseases and 7% for ear diseases. CONCLUSIONS: GPs voluntarily participating in a research network prescribe less antibiotics than Dutch GPs in general, and are cautious in prescribing newer and more broad-spectrum antibiotics. This point has to be taken into account when databases will be compared with each other.

Diagnostic labelling as determinant of antibiotic prescribing for acute respiratory tract episodes in general practice.

BACKGROUND: Next to other GP characteristics, diagnostic labelling (the proportion of acute respiratory tract (RT) episodes to be labelled as infections) probably contributes to a higher volume of antibiotic prescriptions for acute RT episodes. However, it is unknown whether there is an independent association between diagnostic labelling and the volume of prescribed antibiotics, or whether diagnostic labelling is associated with the number of presented acute RT episodes and consequently with the number of antibiotics prescribed per patient per year. METHODS: Data were used from the Second Dutch National Survey of General Practice (DNSGP-2) with 163 GPs from 85 Dutch practices, serving a population of 359,625 patients. Data over a 12 month period were analysed by means of multiple linear regression analysis. Main outcome measure was the volume of antibiotic prescriptions for acute RT episodes per 1,000 patients. RESULTS: The incidence was 236.9 acute RT episodes/1,000 patients. GPs labelled about 70% of acute RT episodes as infections, and antibiotics were prescribed in 41% of all acute RT episodes. A higher incidence of acute RT episodes (beta 0.67), a stronger inclination to label episodes as infections (beta 0.24), a stronger endorsement of the need of antibiotics in case of white spots in the throat (beta 0.11) and being male (beta 0.11) were independent determinants of the prescribed volume of antibiotics for acute RT episodes, whereas diagnostic labelling was not correlated with the incidence of acute RT episodes. CONCLUSION: Diagnostic labelling is a relevant factor in GPs' antibiotic prescribing independent from the incidence of acute RT episodes. Therefore, quality assurance programs and postgraduate courses should emphasise to use evidence based prognostic criteria (e.g. chronic respiratory co-morbidity and old age) as an indication to prescribe antibiotics in stead of single inflammation signs or diagnostic labels.

Illness behaviour and antibiotic prescription in patients with respiratory tract symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Although the vast majority of respiratory tract symptoms are self-limiting, many patients visit their GP for these symptoms and antibiotics are over-prescribed. AIM: To explore determinants of patients visiting GPs for recent cough, sore throat, or earache; for being prescribed antibiotics; and for patients' satisfaction with visiting the GP. DESIGN OF THE STUDY: Second Dutch National Survey of General Practice (DNSGP-2) with a health interview and an additional questionnaire. SETTING: A total of 7057 adult patients of 163 GPs in the Netherlands. METHOD: Characteristics of patients and GPs as well as morbidity data were derived from the DNSGP-2 and a health interview. Characteristics of the symptoms, GPs' management and patients' satisfaction were measured by an additional written questionnaire. Data were analysed by means of multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: About 40% of the responders (n = 1083) reported cough, sore throat, or earache in the 2 weeks preceding the interview and, of them, 250 visited their GP. Of this latter group, 97 patients were prescribed antibiotics. Apart from non-medical reasons, relevant medical factors played an important role in deciding to visit the GP. Smokers and patients with cardiac disease or diabetes mellitus were not especially inclined to see their GP. Smoking behaviour, fever, and views on respiratory tract symptoms and antibiotics of patients and GPs were associated with being prescribed antibiotics. Patients' perception of having been carefully examined was associated with their satisfaction, while receiving antibiotics was not. CONCLUSION: GPs should inform patients with clear elevated risk when to visit their GP in cases of cough, sore throat, or earache. There is still a need for GPs and patients to be better informed about the limited significance of single inflammation signs (for example, fever and green phlegm) as an indication for antibiotics. Careful examination of the patient contributes to patient satisfaction.

Quality of life in smokers: focus on functional limitations rather than on lung function?

BACKGROUND: The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) classification of severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is based solely on obstruction and does not capture physical functioning. The hypothesis that the Medical Research Council (MRC) dyspnoea scale would correlate better with quality of life than the level of airflow limitation was examined. AIM: To study the associations between quality of life in smokers and limitations in physical functioning (MRC dyspnoea scale) and, quality of life and airflow limitation (GOLD COPD stages). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: The city of IJsselstein, a small town in the centre of The Netherlands. METHOD: Male smokers aged 40-65 years without a prior diagnosis of COPD and enlisted with a general practice, participated in this study. Quality of life was assessed by means of a generic (SF-36) and a disease-specific, questionnaire (QOLRIQ). RESULTS: A total of 395 subjects (mean age 55.4 years, pack years 27.1) performed adequate spirometry and completed the questionnaires. Limitations of physical functioning according to the MRC dyspnoea scale were found in 25.1% (99/395) of the participants and airflow limitation in 40.2% (159/395). The correlations of limitations of physical functioning with all quality-of-life components were stronger than the correlations of all quality-of-life subscales with the severity of airflow limitation. CONCLUSION: In middle-aged smokers the correlation of limitations of physical functioning (MRC dyspnoea scale) with quality of life was stronger than the correlation of the severity of airflow limitation with quality of life. Future staging systems of severity of COPD should capture this and not rely on forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) alone.

Views on respiratory tract symptoms and antibiotics of Dutch general practitioners, practice staff and patients.

OBJECTIVES: To explore views on respiratory tract symptoms (cough, sore throat and earache) and antibiotics of GPs, practice staff, and patients. METHODS: In a nationwide study, 181 GPs, 204 practice staff members and 1250 patients from 90 practices participated by answering 14 items relating to views on respiratory tract symptoms and antibiotics in a written questionnaire. Differences in means were compared. RESULTS: Patients more than GPs endorsed the seriousness of respiratory tract symptoms, the need to consult a GP, the need to prescribe antibiotics, and the ability of antibiotics to speed up recovery. GPs were more than patients convinced of the self-limiting character of respiratory tract symptoms and of the fact that antibiotics have side effects. Practice staff took a middle ground in most of these views. CONCLUSIONS: Differences between GPs, practice staff and patients must be taken into account when exploring patients' complaints and advising on treatment. Education and knowledge programmes for practice staff might be advocated.

Determinants of antibiotic overprescribing in respiratory tract infections in general practice.

OBJECTIVES: To assess determinants of antibiotic overprescribing in patients with sinusitis, tonsillitis and bronchitis in Dutch general practice. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 146 general practitioners (GPs) from The Netherlands included all patients with sinusitis, tonsillitis and bronchitis during a 4 week period in the winter of 2002/2003, and recorded patient characteristics, clinical presentation and management. Overprescribing of antibiotics was assessed using the recommendations of the Dutch national guidelines as a benchmark. RESULTS: In almost 50% of all 1469 respiratory tract infection (RTI) consultations (694/1469), the antibiotic prescribing decisions were in accordance with the recommendations of the Dutch national guidelines. Overprescribing was highest in tonsillitis and bronchitis [71% (168/238) and 63% (415/656), respectively], while in sinusitis this was only 22% (128/575). Underprescribing was seen in 1% (3/238), 3% (17/656) and 8% (44/575), respectively. Patients who received an antibiotic prescription that was not in accordance with the guidelines had more inflammation signs such as fever (ORs 2.08, 2.18 and 3.04, for sinusitis, tonsillitis and bronchitis, respectively), were more severely ill according to their GP (ORs 2.37, 1.87 and 1.42, respectively), and their GP assumed more often that they expected an antibiotic (ORs 1.95, 1.70 and 2.11, respectively), compared with those who did not receive an antibiotic prescription. CONCLUSIONS: GPs overestimate symptoms and probably patients' expectations when indicating antibiotic therapy in RTI cases in daily practice. Correct interpretation of combinations of symptoms for antibiotic treatment should be emphasized, combined with adopting more patient-centred consulting skills to rationalize the prescribing of antibiotics.

Analysis of under- and overprescribing of antibiotics in acute otitis media in general practice.

OBJECTIVES: To assess clinical determinants of under- and overprescribing of antibiotics according to the Dutch national guideline for patients with acute otitis media (AOM) in general practice. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 146 general practitioners (GPs) from the Netherlands included all patients with AOM during a 4 week period in winter, and recorded patient characteristics, clinical presentation and management. Under- and overprescribing of antibiotics in AOM was assessed using the Dutch national guideline. RESULTS: A total of 458 AOM consultations were recorded. In seven out of 10 consultations (310/439; excluding 19 consultations in which patients were referred to secondary care), antibiotic prescribing decisions were according to the national guideline. In 11% of all consultations (50/439), there was underprescribing and in 18% (79/439) there was overprescribing. Patients with an antibiotic indication but without an antibiotic prescription (underprescribing; n=50) had more short-term symptoms (OR: 0.93), relatively few inflammation signs (OR: 0.47) and were less severely ill (OR: 0.30), compared with patients with an antibiotic indication and an antibiotic prescription (n=167). Patients without an antibiotic indication but with an antibiotic prescription (overprescribing; n=79) were more often younger than 24 months (OR: 0.34), more severely ill (OR: 3.30) and expected more often an antibiotic as perceived by their GP (OR: 2.11), compared with patients without an antibiotic indication and without an antibiotic prescription (n=143). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical determinants which are stated as criteria for antibiotic treatment of AOM in the Dutch national guideline were recognized by GPs as important items, but were frequently given too much weight.

Determinants of prescribing of second-choice antibiotics for upper and lower respiratory tract episodes in Dutch general practice.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the association between general practitioners' (GPs') characteristics and the volume of second-choice antibiotics for acute respiratory tract (RT) episodes by GPs. METHODS: Morbidity and antibiotic prescription data originated from the Second Dutch National Survey of General Practice (DNSGP-2). GPs' characteristics, including professional activities and views on RT symptoms and antibiotics, were measured by a written questionnaire. Multiple regression was carried out to assess associations between possible determinants and volume of second-choice antibiotic prescriptions. RESULTS: In approximately 39% of acute RT episodes antibiotics were prescribed, with one-quarter being second-choice antibiotics, relatively more frequently in lower than in upper RT episodes: 30 versus 19%. GPs who were more frequently consulted by patients with RT episodes (beta = 0.29; 95% CI 0.13-0.41), who labelled RT episodes more as diagnoses than as symptoms (beta = 0.27; 95% CI 0.15-0.42), who less frequently used national GP guidelines (beta = -0.17; 95% CI -0.31 to -0.03) and who were more inclined to prescribe new drugs (beta = 0.26; 95% CI 0.13-0.40), prescribed more second-choice antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS: Given the growing number of prescriptions of second-choice antibiotics, it is important to implement professional guidelines in daily practice, while training in being reluctant to prescribe new drugs and being alert to the marketing activities of pharmaceutical companies should be started in the medical curriculum.

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 in autumn and winter 2001 and 2002. In addition, all GPs completed a questionnaire related to individual and practice characteristics. RESULTS: The mean proportion of consultations in which GPs prescribed antibiotics was 33% (95% CI = 29 to 35%) of all RTIs. This proportion varied from 21% for patients with upper RTIs or an exacerbation of asthma/COPD, to about 70% when patients had sinusitis-like complaints or pneumonia. Amoxycillin and doxycycline were the most frequently prescribed antibiotics, while 17% of the antibiotics prescribed were macrolides. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the longer GPs had practised, the more frequently they prescribed antibiotics, especially in combination with relatively little knowledge about RTIs or the less time GPs felt they had available per patient. The final model, with seven factors, explained 29% of the variance of antibiotic prescribing. CONCLUSION: The prescribing behaviour of Dutch GPs might be improved with regard to choice of type and indication of antibiotics.