title: Converting habits of antibiotic prescribing for respiratory tract infections in German primary care--the cluster-randomized controlled CHANGE-2 trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  With an average prescription rate of 50%, in German primary care antibiotics are still too frequently prescribed for respiratory tract infections. The over-prescription of antibiotics is often explained by perceived patient pressure and fears of a complicated disease progression. The CHANGE-2 trial will test the effectiveness of two interventions to reduce the rate of inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions for adults and children suffering from respiratory tract infections in German primary care.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study is a three-arm cluster-randomized controlled trial that measures antibiotic prescription rates over three successive winter periods and reverts to administrative data of the German statutory health insurance company AOK. More than 30,000 patients in two regions of Germany, who visit their general practitioner or pediatrician for respiratory tract infections will be included. Interventions are: A) communication training for general practitioners and pediatricians and B) intervention A plus point-of-care testing. Both interventions are tested against usual care. Outcome measure is the physicians' antibiotic prescription rate for respiratory tract infections derived from data of the health insurance company AOK. Secondary outcomes include reconsultation rate, complications, and hospital admissions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Major aim of the study is to improve the process of decision-making and to ensure that patients who are likely to benefit from antibiotics are treated accordingly. Our approach is simple to implement and might be used rapidly among general practitioners and pediatricians. We expect the results of this trial to have major impact on antibiotic prescription strategies and practices in Germany, both among general practitioners and pediatricians.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The study is registered at the Current Controlled Trials Ltd (ISRCTN01559032).
authors.affiliation: Institute of General Practice, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany.
authors.forename: Attila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Altiner
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Berner
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Diener
authors.forename: Gregor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Feldmeier
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Köchling
authors.forename: Christin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Löffler
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schröder
authors.forename: Achim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Siegel
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wollny
authors.forename: Winfried V
authors.initials: WV
authors.lastname: Kern
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006184:Habits; D006801:Humans; D057970:Inappropriate Prescribing / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D058007:Physicians, Primary Care / Q000193:education*; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents