Table 4 Participants reporting using DP with ‘sensible’ patients

I only give delayed antibiotics if I feel like the patient or the patient’s parent is very sensible and on board with it. [GP, FG6]

Generally [DP] is for chest complaints that I would issue it, or if they’ve had recurrent tonsillitis that has required antibiotics that it’s been appropriate for and they’re starting to become unwell and you’ve got a sensible family, then I might do it then as well… [GP, FG7]

[DP] would be useful for patients who understand the use of antibiotics, who are bit more sensible but not for everybody I would say, considering we’ve got some population who doesn’t understand when to use it. Some population groups in this practice who don’t understand when to use antibiotics so they’ll still be feeling okay and will still get antibiotics and take it because they are used to that. [GP, FG8]

I also probably gauge which ones I think are more likely to be sensible hopefully. [Patient’s father] said ‘Yes, I think that sounds reasonable’. He seemed a bit reassured about that. Let’s see how she goes in the next few days. [GP trainee, FG9]