Verbal advice plus an information leaflet reduced antibiotic use in acute bronchitis.

(2002) BMJ 324, 91; Macfarlane J, Holmes W, Gard P, et al. . Reducing antibiotic use for acute bronchitis in primary care: blinded, randomised controlled trial of patient information leaflet. . Jan 12; . : . –4 . [OpenUrl][1][Abstract/FREE Full Text][2] 
 QUESTION: In patients presenting with acute bronchitis, does verbal advice plus an information leaflet describing the uncertain value of antibiotics reduce antibiotic use more than verbal advice alone? Randomised (unclear allocation concealment*), blinded (clinicians and data collectors),* controlled trial with 4 weeks of follow up. 3 general practices in Nottingham, UK. 259 patients ≥ 16 years of age who had acute bronchitis (ie, illness for ≤ 21 d; main symptom of cough; ≥ 1 of sputum production, dyspnoea, wheeze, or chest discomfort or pain; and no alternative explanation) and were not receiving medical attention for an underlying disease, such as asthma, heart disease, or diabetes. 47 patients were judged to need antibiotics immediately. 212 … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DBMJ%26rft.stitle%253DBMJ%26rft.issn%253D0007-1447%26rft.aulast%253DMacfarlane%26rft.auinit1%253DJ.%26rft.volume%253D324%26rft.issue%253D7329%26rft.spage%253D91%26rft.epage%253D91%26rft.atitle%253DReducing%2Bantibiotic%2Buse%2Bfor%2Bacute%2Bbronchitis%2Bin%2Bprimary%2Bcare%253A%2Bblinded%252C%2Brandomised%2Bcontrolled%2Btrial%2Bof%2Bpatient%2Binformation%2Bleaflet%2B%2A%2BCommentary%253A%2BMore%2Bself%2Breliance%2Bin%2Bpatients%2Band%2Bfewer%2Bantibiotics%253A%2Bstill%2Broom%2Bfor%2Bimprovement%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1136%252Fbmj.324.7339.S91%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F11786454%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/ijlink?linkType=ABST&journalCode=bmj&resid=324/7329/91&atom=%2Febmed%2F7%2F4%2F119.atom