Perceptions of barriers to the management of respiratory tract infections in general practice settings in Australia
Stephanie Fletcher-Lartey A C and Rabia Khan B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Public Health Unit, South Western Sydney Local Health District, PO Box 38, Liverpool, NSW 1871, Australia.
B Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2, rue André Pascal, Cedex 16, F-75775 Paris, France.
C Corresponding author. Email: stephanie.fletcher@sswahs.nsw.gov.au
Australian Journal of Primary Health 23(5) 471-475 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY17017
Submitted: 15 February 2017 Accepted: 9 July 2017 Published: 21 September 2017
Journal Compilation © La Trobe University 2017 Open Access CC BY-NC-ND
Abstract
Inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics for the management of respiratory tract infections (RTIs) has contributed to increased prevalence of antibiotic resistance, and this remains a challenge. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of general practitioners’ (GPs) participation in the Antibiotics: Clinical e-Audit, a quality-improvement activity, on GP self-reported knowledge and practice change, and explored barriers encountered in the management of respiratory tract infections (RTIs). Participants completed a survey at the end of the activity to assess the usefulness of the audit, any reported changes made and barriers encountered to their clinical practice. More than half of the 872 participants reported the audit assisted them in reviewing patients with RTIs. The majority of GP registrars (48.2%, N = 66) indicated that the clinical e-Audit had changed their practice in terms of identifying patients for whom an antibiotic was recommended. GPs identified several barriers to achieving best practice in the management of RTIs, including patient or carer expectations for an antibiotic prescription and non-adherence to symptomatic management by patients. Empowering GPs to overcome these barriers should be the aim of future education and behaviour change programs.
Additional keywords: antibiotic prescribing, antimicrobial stewardship, Clinical e-Audit, quality improvement activity, symptomatic management.
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