Predictors of patient-initiated reconsultation for lower respiratory tract infections in general practice.
Reconsultation for lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) is common in general practice, but those who reconsult rarely have more significant illness warranting antibiotics. Knowledge of factors that predict patient-initiated reconsultation may allow clinicians to address specific issues during the initial consultation that could reduce reconsultations. Thirty-three per cent of a cohort of 431 LRTI patients in a randomised controlled trial reconsulted. Excluding 35 patients with GP-requested reconsultation left 28% (112/396) with a patient-initiated reconsultation during 28-day follow-up. Patient-reported dyspnoea and concerns that persisted after the initial consultation independently predicted patient-initiated reconsultation.
Department of General Practice, School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht University Medical Centre, The Netherlands. j.cals@hag.unimaas.nl
Jochen W L
JW
Cals
Kerenza
K
Hood
Nienke
N
Aaftink
Rogier M
RM
Hopstaken
Nick A
NA
Francis
Geert-Jan
GJ
Dinant
Christopher C
CC
Butler
D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D015331:Cohort Studies; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D055502:Secondary Prevention
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002097:C-Reactive Protein