The effect of a self-care minimal intervention for colds and flu on the use of medical services.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the impact of mailed distribution of a brief self-care pamphlet on upper respiratory infection (URI)-related-medical care utilization.


METHODS
Randomized controlled clinical trial with randomization by physician panel.


METHODS
Health maintenance organization.


METHODS
20,127 patients assigned to the panels of 22 primary care physicians randomly divided into an experimental group (n = 12,353) and a control group (n = 7,774), each consisting of 11 physician panels.


METHODS
A mailed four-page self-care pamphlet for URI care.


RESULTS
The medical records and survey data of a random sample of 790 persons were studied during a baseline period and an intervention period. URI visit rates decreased 14% more in the experimental group versus the control group (p = 0.878). Appropriateness of URI visits during the intervention period in the experimental group (80%) was comparable to that in the control group (76%). URI drug prescriptions during the intervention period for all 20,127 patients showed no significant difference.


CONCLUSIONS
A simple mailed self-care pamphlet has little effect on medical care utilization for URI care.
Stergachis
A
A
Center for Health Studies, University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
Newmann
W E
WE
Williams
K J
KJ
Schnell
M M
MM
D000328:Adult; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010174:Pamphlets; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000628:therapy*; D012648:Self Care; D013689:Telephone