De la Poza Abad 2016.
| Study characteristics | ||
| Methods | Randomised controlled trial over 2.5 years | |
| Participants | 405 adults with uncomplicated respiratory infections presenting to 23 primary healthcare centres in Spain. 398 participants were randomised: 198 to delayed antibiotics (100 to prescription collection strategy and 98 to patient‐led prescription strategy), 101 to immediate antibiotics and 99 to no antibiotics. Age: the average age of participants in the prescription collection delayed antibiotic strategy was 42 years (SD 17); the patient‐led prescription delayed antibiotic strategy 45 years (SD 17); the immediate antibiotic group 48 years (SD 17); and the no antibiotic group 45 years (SD 16) Sex:delayed antibiotics (prescription collection) group: 29 males, 71 females; delayed antibiotics (patient‐led prescription) group: 33 males, 65 females; immediate antibiotic group: 39 males, 61 females; no antibiotic group: 35 males, 64 females Exclusion criteria: not reported |
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| Interventions | Delayed antibiotics (patient‐led prescription strategy) versus delayed antibiotics (prescription collection strategy) versus immediate antibiotics versus no antibiotics | |
| Outcomes |
Primary outcomes: duration of symptoms, severity of symptoms, antibiotic use, patient satisfaction Secondary outcomes: participants' beliefs about the effectiveness of antibiotics All outcomes were measured using a patient diary |
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| Notes | Grant funding came from a joint initiative of the Spanish federal government and the European Regional Development Fund. Study authors were approached for extra information and these data were obtained. | |
| Risk of bias | ||
| Bias | Authors' judgement | Support for judgement |
| Random sequence generation (selection bias) | Low risk | Participants were centrally randomised using an e‐online platform |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) | High risk | Not described |
| Blinding (performance bias and detection bias) All outcomes | High risk | No blinding undertaken |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes | Low risk | 405 participants were recruited and 398 included in the analysis; 3 lost to follow‐up in delayed group, 4 lost to follow‐up in the immediate/no prescription group. Intention‐to‐treat guided all analyses. |
| Selective reporting (reporting bias) | Low risk | No evidence of selective reporting |
| Other bias | Low risk | Funded by government body |