Table 2.
Univariable and multivariable analyses of patient sociodemographic factors associated with antibiotic prescription
| AB prescribed AB not prescribed | Univariable analysis* | Multivariable analysis† | ||||
| n (%) | n (%) | OR (95% CI) | P value | OR (95% CI) | P value | |
| Sex (n=4508) | ||||||
| Male | 910 (43.1) | 1203 (56.9) | 1 | 0.037 | – | – |
| Female | 1118 (46.7) | 1277 (53.3) | 1.12 (1.01 to 1.25) | |||
| Age (years) (n=4511) | ||||||
| <5 | 194 (35.7) | 350 (64.3) | 1 | 0.000‡ | 1 | 0.000‡ |
| 5–11 | 247 (43.3) | 324 (56.7) | 1.37 (1.09 to 1.72) | 1.55 (1.15 to 2.08) | ||
| 12–17 | 164 (45.9) | 193 (54.1) | 1.40 (1.08 to 1.80) | 1.74 (1.24 to 2.44) | ||
| 18–24 | 215 (46.0) | 252 (54.0) | 1.47 (1.16 to 1.87) | 1.71 (1.24 to 2.36) | ||
| 25–44 | 586 (45.6) | 699 (54.4) | 1.61 (1.33 to 1.96) | 1.82 (1.40 to 2.37) | ||
| 45–64 | 367 (46.5) | 423 (53.5) | 1.56 (1.26 to 1.92) | 1.72 (1.30 to 2.29) | ||
| ≥65 | 260 (52.3) | 237 (47.7) | 1.86 (1.47 to 2.35) | 2.33 (1.71 to 3.18) | ||
| Educational level (n=4484) | ||||||
| Preschool | 181 (36.5) | 315 (63.5) | 1 | 0.002‡ | – | – |
| Primary | 327 (43.5) | 424 (56.5) | 1.23 (0.99 to 1.53) | |||
| Secondary | 850 (47.1) | 953 (52.9) | 1.43 (1.18 to 1.74) | |||
| Upper secondary | 351 (45.2) | 425 (54.8) | 1.38 (1.11 to 1.71) | |||
| Tertiary | 268 (49.2) | 277 (50.8) | 1.57 (1.24 to 1.98) | |||
| None achieved | 46 (40.7) | 67 (59.3) | 1.20 (0.81 to 1.79) | |||
| No of persons per household (n=4465) | ||||||
| 1–2 | 551 (50.7) | 536 (49.3) | 1 | 0.000‡ | – | – |
| 3–4 | 1131 (42.1) | 1556 (57.9) | 0.74 (0.65 to 0.85) | |||
| ≥5 | 328 (47.5) | 363 (52.5) | 0.91 (0.76 to 1.09) | |||
| Contact with children <5 years (n=4481) | ||||||
| No | 1290 (44.8) | 1591 (55.2) | 1 | 0.198 | – | – |
| Yes | 727 (45.4) | 873 (54.6) | 0.93 (0.82 to 1.04) | |||
| Current smoker (n=4453) | ||||||
| No | 1614 (43.4) | 2104 (56.6) | 1 | 0.000 | 1 | 0.002 |
| Yes | 402 (54.7) | 333 (45.3) | 1.64 (1.42 to 1.91) | 1.39 (1.13 to 1.71) | ||
*n=4518 unless otherwise specified.
†n=4425 in final multivariable population-averaged panel-data model using generalised estimating equations which was also adjusted for GP sex, GP age, regular client, antibiotics requested, no of signs and symptoms, fever (>38.5°C), productive cough, non-productive cough, sore throat, rhinorrhoea, otalgia, tender cervical nodes and dyspnoea.
‡Wald test; p values highlighted bold indicate independent variables statistically significant at p<0.05; '–' predictor excluded from model.
AB, antibiotic; GP, general practitioner.