Study protocol for evaluating delayed antibiotic prescribing to promote rational antibiotic use in primary healthcare institutions in China: a pragmatic, multicentre, open-label, clustered-randomised controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Delayed antibiotic prescribing (DAP) has demonstrated efficacy in reducing inappropriate antibiotic use for uncomplicated respiratory tract infections (uRTIs) in primary care across high-income countries. However, evidence regarding its effectiveness in low-income and middle-income countries remains limited. This cluster-randomised controlled trial (cRCT) aims to evaluate the effectiveness of DAP for optimising antibiotic use in primary healthcare institutions (PHIs) in China.

Methods and analysis

We designed a pragmatic, multicentre, open-label, three-arm cRCT in adult patients with uRTIs. The study will involve 12 PHIs in Korla City of China. Participating institutions will be randomised at a 1:1:1 ratio to three parallel arms: (1) DAP-intervention arm, (2) Im

SUBMITTER: Chen S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12636969 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature