Clinical outcomes of patients with upper respiratory tract infections and acute sinusitis managed with a Web-based protocol in primary care practice.
A Web-based system for management of patients with symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection (URI) or sinusitis was developed and implemented for a primary care practice. Researchers conducted a retrospective analysis of the clinical records of 241 patients who accessed the Web-based protocol for these symptoms. A total of 137 patients (57%) fulfilled the criteria for management of their symptoms by registered nurses who followed established treatment guidelines; 51 patients were diagnosed as having URI symptoms and 86 with symptoms of acute sinusitis. For 84% of the patients with URI symptoms, no antibiotics were prescribed. First-line antibiotics were prescribed for 80% of the patients with sinusitis. The outcomes were no different from those of patients who had been treated with the same guidelines using a telephone protocol. Web-based protocolized care proved efficient, and exhibits outcomes similar to those derived from telephone-based treatment.
Stroebel
Robert J
RJ
Division of Primary Care Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA. stroebel.robert@mayo.com
McLeod
Thomas G
TG
Kitsteiner
John M
JM
Scheitel
Sidna M
SM
Van Houten
Holly K
HK
Naessens
James M
JM
Chaudhry
Rajeev
R
D000208:Acute Disease; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008910:Minnesota; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires