"Get smart Colorado": impact of a mass media campaign to improve community antibiotic use.
BACKGROUND
Large-scale strategies are needed to reduce overuse of antibiotics in US communities.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the impact of a mass media campaign-"Get Smart Colorado"-on public exposure to campaign, antibiotic use, and office visit rates.


METHODS
Nonrandomized controlled trial.


METHODS
Two metropolitan communities in Colorado, United States.


METHODS
The general public, managed care enrollees, and physicians residing in the mass media (2.2 million persons) and comparison (0.53 million persons) communities.


METHODS
: The campaign consisting of paid outdoor advertising, earned media and physician advocacy ran between November 2002 and February 2003.


METHODS
Antibiotics dispensed per 1000 persons or managed care enrollees, and the proportion of office visits receiving antibiotics measured during 10 to 12 months before and after the campaign.


RESULTS
After the mass media campaign, there was a 3.8% net decrease in retail pharmacy antibiotic dispenses per 1000 persons (P = 0.30) and an 8.8% net decrease in managed care-associated antibiotic dispenses per 1000 members (P = 0.03) in the mass media community. Most of the decline occurred among pediatric members, and corresponded with a decline in pediatric office visit rates. There was no change in the office visit prescription rates among pediatric or adult managed care members, nor in visit rates for complications of acute respiratory tract infections.


CONCLUSIONS
A low-cost mass media campaign was associated with a reduction in antibiotic use in the community, and seems to be mediated through decreases in office visits rates among children. The campaign seems to be cost-saving.
Gonzales
Ralph
R
Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA. ralphg@medicine.ucsf.edu
Corbett
Kitty K
KK
Wong
Shale
S
Glazner
Judith E
JE
Deas
Ann
A
Leeman-Castillo
Bonnie
B
Maselli
Judith H
JH
Sebert-Kuhlmann
Ann
A
Wigton
Robert S
RS
Flores
Estevan
E
Kafadar
Karen
K
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003120:Colorado; D004363:Drug Utilization; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008402:Mass Media / Q000191:economics; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents