Table 2. Influence of 2 nonpredictive clinical factors and 1 social factor on antimicrobial agent prescribing, 2002 versus 1999.
Response | Proportion giving desired response (%)* |
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---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wisconsin (WI) |
Minnesota (MN) |
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1999 | 2002 | 1999 | 2002 | WI % 2002/WI % 1999 (adjusted)†‡ | MN % 2002/MN % 1999 (adjusted)†‡ | |
Purulent nasal discharge | 34 | 61 | 42 | 54 | 1.71 (p<0.001) | 1.24 (p = 0.054) |
Productive cough with purulent sputum | 14 | 36 | 20 | 31 | 2.61 (p<0.001) | 1.31 |
Received antimicrobial agents for similar symptoms in past | 57 | 72 | 63 | 70 | 1.20 (p = 0.015) | 1.10 |
*Desired response: presence of the factor had little or no influence on the decision to prescribe. †Only significant p values presented; p values for baseline comparisons not presented. ‡Ratios and corresponding p values adjusted for sex, years in practice, practice setting, and clinician type.