Effects of primary care C-reactive protein point-of-care testing on antibiotic prescribing by general practice staff: pragmatic randomised controlled trial, England, 2016 and 2017.

ABSTRACT: BackgroundC-reactive protein (CRP) testing can be used as a point-of-care test (POCT) to guide antibiotic use for acute cough.AimWe wanted to determine feasibility and effect of introducing CRP POCT in general practices in an area with high antibiotic prescribing for patients with acute cough and to evaluate patients' views of the test.MethodsWe used a McNulty-Zelen cluster pragmatic randomised controlled trial design in general practices in Northern England. Eight intervention practices accepted CRP testing and eight control practices maintained usual practice. Data collection included process evaluation, patient questionnaires, practice audit and antibiotic prescribing data.ResultsEight practices with over 47,000 patient population undertook 268 CRP tests over 6 months: 78% of patients h

SUBMITTER: Eley CV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7645970 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature