Table 4.
A Comparison of the Patient Characteristics Between High and Low Antibiotic Prescribers, and Between Advanced Practice Practitioners (APP) and Physicians a
| High Prescribers | Low Prescribers | |
|---|---|---|
| Age, mean y (SD) | 41.8 (20.1) | 40.3 (20.5) |
| Presenting complaint, % | ||
| Congestion | 4.5 | 4.2 |
| Cough | 41.7 | 40.1 |
| Ear pain | 10.7 | 11.6 |
| Fever | 2.6 | 2.4 |
| Flu-like symptoms | 6.4 | 7.4 |
| Sinus problem | 9.4 | 8.1 |
| Sore throat | 24.6 | 26.2 |
| APPs | Physicians | |
| Age, mean y (SD) | 38.5 (20.1) | 41.9 (20.7) |
| Presenting complaint, % | ||
| Congestion | 4.0 | 4.5 |
| Cough | 38.8 | 41.4 |
| Ear pain | 11.8 | 11.1 |
| Fever | 2.8 | 2.2 |
| Flu-like symptoms | 7.5 | 6.9 |
| Sinus problem | 7.7 | 8.8 |
| Sore throat | 27.4 | 28.5 |
Note. SD, standard deviation.
a
A high prescriber provider was above the 75th percentile in utilization of antibiotics, and low prescribers were below the 25th percentile.