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Table 1 Summary of study booklet content

From: The effect of using an interactive booklet on childhood respiratory tract infections in consultations: Study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial in primary care

Section name

Contents

Who is this booklet for?

General introduction and advice on who the leaflet does not apply to (under 6 months, children with chronic illnesses)

Prompts

Prompts to remind the practitioner (and the parent) to discuss the parent's main concerns and their expectations.

Fever

Facts about fever and advice on managing it.

Temperature fits (Febrile Seizures)

General information and advice on management.

Cough/Chesty Cough

General information, graphical representation of normal duration, advice about management, and information about the effectiveness of antibiotics.

Common Cold

Information about frequency and graphical representation of normal duration. Advice on the effectiveness of antibiotics.

Green phlegm/Snot

Advice about the interpretation of discoloured nasal discharge.

Sore Throat

General advice, graphical representation of the normal duration, information about the effectiveness of antibiotics.

Earache

General advice, graphical representation of the normal duration, information about the effectiveness of antibiotics.

Croup

Information about symptoms and management (including signs of respiratory distress) and the effectiveness of antibiotics.

Not Eating/Drinking

Advice on these symptoms including signs of dehydration.

What can I do?

General section on management advice.

Why not take antibiotics?

Information about the potential disadvantages to use of antibiotics.

When should I seek further help?

Comprehensive section providing a description of symptoms and signs suggestive of serious illness, including pictures of a meningitis/septicaemia rash (and the 'tumbler test'). Also advice on other situations that should prompt re-consultation.

Contact details

Space for clinicians to write 'in-hours' and 'out-of-hours' contact numbers. Contact details for NHS direct (national health information service).