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Title of the publicationImpact of the French campaign to reduce inappropriate ambulatory antibiotic use on the prescription and consultation rates for respiratory tract infections
Abstract

Objectives: To assess long-term trends in the volume of ambulatory antibiotic prescriptions and prescription and consultation rates for respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in France in relation to the yearly public antibiotic campaign since 2002.
Methods: Data collected on representative cohorts of office-based physicians and pharmacies in France parti- cipating in IMS Health panels between 1980 and 2009 were analysed retrospectively. Main outcome measures were antibiotic prescriptions per 1000 inhabitants per year (PIY), consultations per 1000 inhabitants per year and proportion of consultations resulting in antibiotic prescriptions.
Results: The peak in ambulatory antibiotic prescriptions occurred in 1997 (1468 PIY). Although prescriptions had decreased by 6% until 2001, prescriptions fell sharply (222%) between 2001 and 2004, followed by stable prescription rates until 2009. The 2001–09 decrease in antibiotic prescriptions was driven by a sharp decline in office-based antibiotic prescriptions (233%), exclusively achieved through a decrease in prescriptions for RTIs. Consultations for RTIs steadily declined between 2001 and 2009 (223%), with the proportion of con- sultations resulting in antibiotic prescriptions decreasing from 58% to 46%. Not all types of RTIs were equally affected. The largest decrease in prescriptions was observed for nasopharyngitis and influenza. Rates for bron- chitis, sinusitis, otitis media and tonsillitis remained persistently high.
Conclusions: During its first 3 years, the French public campaign accelerated a pre-existing decrease in ambu- latory antibiotic prescriptions. The decrease in consultation rates suggests that altered illness behaviour of patients may have contributed to the observed decline. The persistently high prescribing rates for certain RTIs show that further effort is needed to improve antibiotic prescribing in France.

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1093/jac/dkr387
Name of the first authorChahwakilian, Pierre
Year of publication2011
Study design of the publicationTime-series analysis
Method for data collection and analysis
  • Quantitative data - Quantitative data were used during the intervention
Quantitative data - Quantitative data were used during the intervention
Scientific references about the intervention or other assessment of the intervention

Sabuncu E, David J, Bernede-Bauduin C et al. Significant reduction of antibiotic use in the community after a nationwide campaign in France, 2002 – 2007. PLoS Med 2009; 6: e1000084.

Sector
  • Human - All activities regarding organisations and individuals involved in health products and services
Sub-sectorSub-sectors are further units of demarcation within a sector E.g. awareness campaign from veterinarians to cat owners about toxoplasmosis drug resistance and transmission of resistant bacteria: ANIMAL, PETS
Subsector (human)
  • General (human health)
  • Healthcare delivery
General (human health)
Healthcare delivery