Table 3 Results of multivariate logistic regression model for “antibiotic prescription”. Factors significantly associated with antibiotic prescription at consultation according to multivariate logistic regression (N = 1454)
From: Combined assessment of clinical and patient factors on doctors’ decisions to prescribe antibiotics
Variables | Number of patients N Percentage (%) N = 1454 | Odds Ratio | P | 95 % Confidence Interval |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Temperature above 38 °C (for at least one day) | 659 (45.26 %) | 1.42 | 0.019 | 1.06–1.90 |
Symptom duration longer than 7 days | 421 (28.91 %) | 3.94 | <0.001 | 2.83–5.48 |
Headache while bending forward | 181 (12.43 %) | 1.93 | 0.003 | 1.26–2.95 |
Redness of the throat | 556 (38.19 %) | 2.26 | <0.001 | 1.63–3.12 |
Tonsillar exudates | 178 (12.23 %) | 14.72 | <0.001 | 7.68–28.18 |
Enlargement of cervical and/or submandibular lymph nodes | 260 (17.86 %) | 2.74 | <0.001 | 1.81–4.13 |
Expectoration of purulent sputum | 203 (13.94 %) | 2.22 | 0.001 | 1.36–3.63 |
Thick purulent nasal discharge | 173 (11.88 %) | 3.87 | <0.001 | 2.43–6.15 |
Auscultation sounds: wheezing or rhonchi | 181 (12.43 %) | 13.03 | <0.001 | 7.14–23.8 |
Auscultation sounds: rales or crepitations | 99 (6.80 %) | 26.90 | <0.001 | 9.00–80.35 |
Patient factor 1: starting antibiotics on his/her own | 111 (7.62 %) | 4.11 | <0.001 | 2.33–7.27 |
Patient factor 2: direct request for antibiotics | 247 (16.96 %) | 1.87 | 0.002 | 1.27–2.77 |
Factors that decreased the likelihood of antibiotic prescription | ||||
Patient factor 9: direct request not to prescribe | 80 (5.49 %) | 0.34 | 0.001 | 0.18–0.64 |
Sore throat | 919 (63.12 %) | 0.58 | 0.001 | 0.42–0.80 |
Rhinorrhoea | 787 (54.05 %) | 0.36 | <0.001 | 0.27–0.48 |