title: Telephonic back-up improves antibiotic compliance in acute tonsillitis/pharyngitis.
abstract: A randomised clinical trial was devised to establish whether telephonic back-up added to educational strategy and improved compliance with antibiotic treatment in acute tonsillitis/pharyngitis compared with educational strategy only. The intervention group was given a telephone call on the fourth day after the start of therapy. There were 64 patients in each group (intervention and control). The criterion for evaluating the compliance was to count the tablets in a spot-check at the patient's house. A tablet count of 80-110% defined good compliance. The effect of the intervention was calculated according to the indicators: absolute risk reduction (ARR), relative risk reduction (RRR) and number needed to treat (NNT). A good compliance percentage was 66.1% (57.7-74.5%) and was significantly higher in the intervention group (78.3%) than in the control group (54.1%) ( P=0.005). Indicators of clinical relevance after the intervention were ARR: 24.2%; RRR: 52.7%; NNT: 4.13. In conclusion telephonic back-up significantly improved the compliance obtained by educational strategy only. It should be used in clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Health Center El Campello, Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: A Molinos
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Urién
authors.forename: V F Gil
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Guillén
authors.forename: D Orozco
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Beltrán
authors.forename: C López-Quintana
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Pinzotas
authors.forename: E Romero
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: M Oyarzabal
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Arocena
authors.forename: J Merino
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sánchez
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013689:Telephone; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000658:Amoxicillin