Remote Versus In-person Outpatient Clinic Visits and Antibiotic Use Among Children During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The proportion of remote clinic visits was expected to increase among children during the COVID-19 pandemic which might result in antibiotic overuse.

Methods

In southern Israel, 2 ethnic groups, Jewish and Bedouin, live side-by-side. Computerized data on visits for children <18 years were examined from clinics with ≥50 insured children, active both pre-COVID-19 and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Visits were divided into in-person and remote. Monthly infectious diagnoses and dispensed antibiotic prescription rates were calculated by age (<5, 5-17 years) and ethnic groups. Mean monthly rates of 2 parallel seasons (pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 periods) were compared.

Results

Overall 2,120,253 outpatient clinic visits were recorded. Remote clinic visit rates (per 1

SUBMITTER: Danino D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9281428 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature