Table 3 Patients' characteristics, presenting symptoms and expectations, by consumption of antibiotics.
From: Use and feasibility of delayed prescribing for respiratory tract infections: A questionnaire survey
Total (%) | Patients who took antibiotics (%)a(n = 141) | Patients who did not take antibiotics (%)a (n = 163) | Pick up rate % | P-value b | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Grouped age (years) n = 304 | ||||||||
Less than 16 | 100 | (33) | 38 | (27) | 62 | (38) | 38 | 0,04* |
16-59 | 180 | (59) | 90 | (64) | 90 | (55) | 50 | 0,13 |
60 and over | 24 | (8) | 13 | (9) | 11 | (7) | 54 | 0,43 |
Gender n = 304 | ||||||||
Female | 204 | (67) | 95 | (67) | 109 | (67) | 47 | 0,93 |
Male | 100 | (33) | 46 | (33) | 54 | (33) | 46 | |
Highest education n = 302 (140/162) | ||||||||
Basic education (7-9 years) | 34 | (11) | 15 | (11) | 19 | (12) | 44 | 0,78 |
High school (10-12 years) | 105 | (35) | 50 | (36) | 55 | (34) | 48 | 0,75 |
College/university (>12 years) | 163 | (54) | 75 | (53) | 88 | (54) | 46 | 0,9 |
Presenting symptoms n = 303 (141/162) | ||||||||
Sore throat | 101 | (33) | 52 | (37) | 49 | (30) | 51 | 0,21 |
Earache | 94 | (31) | 40 | (28) | 54 | (33) | 43 | 0,37 |
Cough | 124 | (41) | 63 | (45) | 61 | (37) | 51 | 0,2 |
Fever | 111 | (37) | 62 | (44) | 49 | (30) | 56 | 0,012* |
Sinus pain | 118 | (39) | 56 | (40) | 62 | (38) | 47 | 0,76 |
Muscular aches | 32 | (11) | 17 | (12) | 15 | (9) | 53 | 0,42 |
Runny nose | 49 | (16) | 22 | (16) | 27 | (17) | 45 | 0,82 |
Nasal congestion | 94 | (31) | 39 | (28) | 55 | (34) | 41 | 0,25 |
Malaise | 72 | (24) | 38 | (27) | 34 | (21) | 53 | 0,21 |
Wheezing/shortness of breath | 61 | (20) | 31 | (22) | 30 | (18) | 51 | 0,44 |
Other symptoms | 17 | (6) | 10 | (7) | 7 | (4) | 59 | 0,29 |
Sum symptoms | 873 | 430 (3,05 pr case) | 443 (2,73 pr case) | |||||
1 symptom | 87 | (29) | 30 | (21) | 57 | (35) | 34 | 0,008* |
2-4 symptoms | 161 | (53) | 81 | (57) | 80 | (49) | 50 | 0,15 |
More than 4 symptoms | 55 | (18) | 30 | (21) | 25 | (15) | 55 | 0,18 |
Feeling ill n = 301 (139/162) | ||||||||
Very ill | 34 | (11) | 24 | (17) | 10 | (6) | 71 | 0,003* |
Modestly ill | 193 | (64) | 89 | (64) | 104 | (64) | 46 | 0,9 |
A bit ill | 74 | (25) | 26 | (19) | 48 | (30) | 35 | 0,026* |
Patient expectations n = 303 (141/162) | ||||||||
Antibiotic prescription | 157 | (52) | 79 | (56) | 78 | (48) | 50 | 0,16 |
Other prescription | 44 | (15) | 20 | (14) | 24 | (15) | 45 | 0,89 |
Advice | 51 | (17) | 22 | (16) | 29 | (18) | 43 | 0,61 |
Tests | 144 | (48) | 69 | (49) | 75 | (46) | 48 | 0,61 |
Referral | 9 | (3) | 3 | (2) | 6 | (4) | 33 | 0,43 |
Sicknote | 43 | (14) | 24 | (17) | 19 | (12) | 56 | 0,18 |
No expectations | 50 | (17) | 19 | (13) | 31 | (19) | 38 | 0,19 |
Diagnosis group n = 304 | ||||||||
Upper respiratory tract symptoms and infections | 60 | (20) | 34 | (24) | 26 | (16) | 57 | 0,075 |
Lower respiratory tract infections | 41 | (14) | 21 | (15) | 20 | (12) | 51 | 0,5 |
Ear infections | 65 | (21) | 23 | (16) | 42 | (26) | 35 | 0,045* |
Sinusitis | 101 | (33) | 47 | (33) | 54 | (33) | 47 | 0,97 |
Acute tonsillitis | 24 | (8) | 11 | (8) | 13 | (8) | 46 | 0,96 |
Other respiratory diagnoses | 13 | (4) | 5 | (4) | 8 | (5) | 38 | 0,56 |