A complex intervention to reduce antibiotic prescribing in rural China: a cluster randomised controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Excessive use of antibiotics is a widespread problem. We aim to evaluate the efficacy of a multifaceted intervention for reducing antibiotic use in patients with respiratory tract infections (RTIs).

Methods

In this two-arm cluster randomized controlled trial, we enrolled patients aged 18+ with symptomatic RTIs at 40 township health centers (THCs) selected from 10 counties in Anhui, China. The THCs were randomized using an online tool ('Sealed Envelope') to intervention or usual care (1:1 ratio), stratified by baseline antibiotic prescribing and with random block sizes (4 or 6). The intervention had five components: a half-day clinician training, a WeChat-based peer support group, a decision aid, a poster commitment letter and a patient leaflet. The primary outcome

SUBMITTER: Shen X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11570860 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature