Table 3. Time Away From Work or School, Medication Use, and Health Contactsa.
| Total No. of Patients | No. (%) of Patients | Risk Difference, % (95% CI) | Relative Risk (95% CI) | P Value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dexamethasone | Placebo | |||||
| Reconsultation at Health Care Facility | ||||||
| Overall | 565 | 31/288 (10.8) | 20/277 (7.2) | 3.3 (−0.6 to 7.3) | 1.48 (0.87 to 2.53) | .15 |
| No antibiotic prescription | 342 | 23/173 (13.3) | 16/169 (9.5) | 3.5 (−3.1 to 10.0) | 1.40 (0.77 to 2.56) | .27 |
| Delayed antibiotic prescription | 223 | 8/115 (7.0) | 4/108 (3.7) | 3.2 (−1.8 to 8.2) | 1.73 (0.54 to 5.50) | .36 |
| Patients Missing Work or Education | ||||||
| Overall | 411 | 61/202 (30.2) | 73/209 (34.9) | −4.2 (−13.0 to 4.7) | 0.86 (0.65 to 1.13) | .26 |
| No antibiotic prescription | 254 | 32/123 (26.0) | 39/131 (29.8) | −3.1 (−14.0 to 7.8) | 0.87 (0.59 to 1.30) | .50 |
| Delayed antibiotic prescription | 157 | 29/79 (36.7) | 34/78 (45.6) | −6.2 (−21.3 to 8.9) | 0.84 (0.58 to 1.23) | .37 |
| Antibiotics Consumed for Sore Throat | ||||||
| Overall | 417 | 50/206 (24.3) | 59/211 (28.0) | −2.4 (−9.6 to 4.7) | 0.83 (0.62 to 1.11) | .22 |
| No antibiotic prescription | 260 | 16/127 (12.6) | 17/133 (12.8) | −0.2 (−8.3 to 7.9) | 0.99 (0.52 to 1.87) | .97 |
| Delayed antibiotic prescription | 157 | 34/79 (43.0) | 42/78 (53.8) | −10.8 (−26.4 to 4.7) | 0.80 (0.58 to 1.11) | .18 |
| Antibiotics for Other Reasons | ||||||
| Overall | 417 | 5/206 (2.4) | 9/211 (4.3) | −1.7 (−5.8 to 2.3) | 0.58 (0.20 to 1.70) | .32 |
| No antibiotic prescription | 260 | 5/127 (3.9) | 6/133 (4.5) | 0.1 (−4.5 to 4.8) | 0.86 (0.27 to 2.73) | .79 |
| Delayed antibiotic prescription | 157 | 0/79 | 3/78 (3.8) | |||
| Pain Relief Preparationsb | ||||||
| Overall | 417 | 147/206 (71.4) | 154/211 (73.0) | −1.3 (−9.8 to 7.1) | 0.98 (0.87 to 1.10) | .77 |
| No antibiotic prescription | 260 | 88/127 (69.3) | 98/133 (73.7) | −4.4 (−15.3 to 6.6) | 0.94 (0.81 to 1.09) | .42 |
| Delayed antibiotic prescription | 157 | 59/79 (74.7) | 56/78 (71.8) | 3.2 (−10.1 to 16.6) | 1.05 (0.88 to 1.25) | .62 |
a
Log-binomial model adjusted for center and delayed antibiotic prescription.
b
Analysis includes only participants who provided follow-up information on the name of antibiotics used, including lozenges, linctus, and sprays that contain a local anesthetic or anti-inflammatory.