Reducing use of injections through interactional group discussions: a randomized controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether interactional group discussions could reduce prescriptions of injections by physicians.


METHODS
Randomized controlled trial.


METHODS
Rural public health care facilities, North 24 Parganas district, West Bengal, India.


METHODS
72 medical officers, 36 each in intervention and control groups.


METHODS
Interactional group discussions.


METHODS
Proportion of prescriptions including at least one injection.


RESULTS
In the intervention group, 249 of 1,080 prescriptions (23%) included at least one injection compared with 79 of 1,080 prescriptions (7%) before and after the intervention, respectively. (RR: 0.32, 95% CI: 0.25-0.40). In the control group, 231 of 1,080 prescriptions (21%) included at least one injection before the intervention vs 178 of 1,080 prescriptions (16%) after the intervention (RR 0.77, 95% CI: 0.65-0.92).


CONCLUSIONS
Interactional group discussions reduce prescription of injections.
Bhunia
R
R
Field Epidemiology Training Programme, National Institute of Epidemiology, Indian Council of Medical Research, Chennai, India. rbhunia@gmail.com
Hutin
Y
Y
Ramkrishnan
R
R
Ghosh
P K
PK
Dey
S
S
Murhekar
M
M
D000328:Adult; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007267:Injections / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D010820:Physicians