Authors: Huang, Nicole¹; Chou, Yiing-Jenq²; Chang, Hong-Jen³; Ho, Monto⁴; Morlock, Laura⁵

Source: Family Practice, Volume 22, Number 2, April 2005 , pp. 160-167(8)

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Abstract:

Background. Imprudent prescribing of antibiotics in ambulatory care in Asia is of great concern. However, an adequate understanding of factors associated with antibiotic prescribing patterns in Asia has not been achieved.

Objective. Our aim was to identify patient and physician characteristics that influence antibiotic prescribing for adults with nasopharyngitis (common colds), upper respiratory tract infections (URIs) or bronchitis in Taiwan.

Methods. Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) were used to analyze all 128 260 episodes of common colds, URIs and bronchitis generated by a random sample of 137 935 adult National Health Insurance (NHI) beneficiaries (18 years old) in Taiwan in 2000.

Results. Multivariate analysis results revealed substantial variations across different physician groups. Physician age and accreditation level of the physician's practice setting were the characteristics most associated with prescribing of antibiotics at the initial encounters for these episodes of care. Urban practising physicians (adjusted OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.29–2.21) and those who were self-dispensing or with on-site pharmacists (adjusted OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.19–1.46) were also higher prescribers of antibiotics for adults. Other significant physician predictors included physician specialty, patient volume, and ownership of practice setting.

Conclusions. Results suggest that both accessibility to updated medical information and economic incentives of the attending physician may shape prescribing of antibiotics in ambulatory care in Taiwan. Interventions should be developed to influence these modifiable factors to reduce antibiotic prescriptions of questionable value.

Keywords: Adults; antibiotic prescribing; ambulatory care; Taiwan

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/fampra/cmh734

Affiliations: 1: Department of Health Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan, 2: Department of Social Medicine, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, 3: Bureau of National Health Insurance, Taipei, Taiwan and 4: Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh PA, USA 5: Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Room 406, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore MD, 21205, USA,

Publication date: 2005-04-01

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• Family Practice is an international journal aimed at practitioners, teachers and researchers in the fields of family medicine, general practice and primary care in both developed and developing countries.

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