General practitioners' perceptions of delayed antibiotic prescription for respiratory tract infections: A phenomenographic study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Antibiotic use is a major driver of antibiotic resistance. Although delayed antibiotic prescription is a recommended strategy to reduce antibiotic use, practices vary; it appears less commonly used in southern European countries where antibiotic consumption is highest. Despite these variations, few qualitative studies have explored general practitioners' perceptions of delayed antibiotic prescription. We therefore aimed to explore and describe the perceptions of delayed antibiotic prescription for respiratory tract infections among general practitioners in Malta.

Methods

This qualitative phenomenographic study was conducted in Malta. A semi-structured interview guide was developed in English, pilot tested and revised accordingly. Interview topics included views on

SUBMITTER: Saliba-Gustafsson EA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6874332 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature