Verbal advice plus an information leaflet reduced antibiotic use in patients presenting with acute bronchitis
QUESTION: In patients presenting with acute bronchitis, does verbal advice plus an information leaflet describing the uncertain value of antibiotics for this condition reduce antibiotic use more than verbal advice alone?
Design
Randomised (unclear allocation concealment), blinded (clinicians and data collectors) controlled trial with 4 weeks of follow up.
Setting
3 general practices in Nottingham, UK.
Patients
259 consecutive adults ≥16 years of age presenting with acute bronchitis, defined as a new acute lower respiratory tract illness (ie, illness for ≤21 d; main symptom of cough; ≥1 symptom of sputum production, dyspnoea, wheeze, or chest discomfort or pain; and no alternative explanation), who were not under medical supervision for an underlying disease such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease, or diabetes. 47 patients were judged to need antibiotics immediately. 212 patients were judged to not need antibiotics immediately and were subsequently randomised (median age …
