title: Enabling factors for antibiotic prescribing for upper respiratory tract infections: perspectives of Lithuanian and Russian general practitioners.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  General practitioners (GPs) write about 80% of all antibiotic prescriptions, the greatest number of them for patients with respiratory tract infections. However, there is a lack of research targeting the influence of external factors on antibiotic prescribing by physicians. This study aimed to explore experiences of GPs in Lithuania and the Russian Federation with regard to antibiotic prescription for upper respiratory tract infections. By such means it might be possible to reveal external enabling factors that influence antibiotic prescribing in these countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five focus groups were performed with 22 GPs from Lithuania and 29 GPs from the Kaliningrad Region of the Russian Federation; then, thematic analysis of data was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six thematic categories were identified that are related to external forces enabling antibiotic prescription: the necessity for political leadership to encourage clinically grounded antibiotic use; over-the-counter sale of antibiotics; designation of antibiotics as reimbursable medications; supervision by external oversight institutions; lack of guidelines for the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections; and pharmaceutical company activities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Comprehensive efforts to reduce the burden of non-clinically grounded antibiotic prescription should go beyond addressing factors at the physician-patient level and take into account important factors in the enabling environment as well.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania. ljaruseviciene@gmail.com
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jaruseviciene
authors.forename: Ruta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Radzeviciene Jurgute
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bjerrum
authors.forename: Arnoldas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jurgutis
authors.forename: Gediminas
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jarusevicius
authors.forename: Jeffrey V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Lazarus
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D058005:General Practitioners; D006801:Humans; D008097:Lithuania; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012426:Russia
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents