Back-up antibiotic prescriptions could reduce unnecessary antibiotic use in rhinosinusitis.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the attitudes of patients with rhinosinusitis toward the availability of "back-up" antibiotics, and potential implications for antibiotic use rates.


METHODS
A survey that assessed actual and hypothetical antibiotic prescription patterns was administered to a convenience sample of patients treated for rhinosinusitis in one acute care facility between September 1 and December 1, 2001.


RESULTS
Of 386 eligible patients, 114 completed the survey. Seventy-six percent of patients expected antibiotic treatment; satisfaction rates were significantly associated with receiving an antibiotic prescription (P <.05). Over two-thirds of patients (69.7%) reported preference for back-up antibiotic prescriptions in the future, with 91.1% stating they would wait at least 1 day, and 52.7% at least 7 days, to fill a backup prescription. In sensitivity analysis, back-up prescriptions significantly reduced antibiotic use over a wide range of assumptions.


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of patients with rhinosinusitis in this study expected antibiotic prescriptions, and were more satisfied if they were received. Back-up antibiotics have the potential to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use, mitigate risk of nontreatment, and preserve high levels of patient satisfaction.
Martin
Corey L
CL
Yale Prevention Research Center, 130 Division St., Derby, CT 06418, USA.
Njike
Valentine Yanchou
VY
Katz
David L
DL
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003237:Connecticut; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019564:Unnecessary Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents