2005, Number 1
Family Physician Clinical Criteria for Prescription of Antibiotic to Children with Acute Diarrhea
Pérez-Muñoz MJ, Bautista Samperio L, Piña-Olvera MG.
Full text
Language: Spanish
References: 10
Page: 18-21
PDF size: 53.75 Kb.
ABSTRACT
Objective: Our aim was to evaluate the application of clinical criteria used by the family physician for prescription of antibiotics for acute diarrheal disease (ADD) in children < 5 years of age. Design: We conducted an observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study. Materials and methods: We made up a non-randomized sample at the Family Center from April to October 2003 by selecting 63 clinical records of patients with ADD that were evaluated through random access. Identification of clinical criteria consensus of the family physician for antibiotic prescription with the instrument was made up of seventeen parameters; two categories were established, including “It applies” with one cut-off point at 10 points, and “It does not apply” at 9 or fewer points. We carried out statistics analysis with percentile and median determination for the variable study and confounders and employed Fisher exact test to estimate the influence of the latter. Results: In five (8%) medical records, we found evidence that physicians applied clinical criteria for prescription of antibiotics, while we found that 59 (92%) physicians did not. Risk factor semeiology and clinical exploration were considered at low percentiles. The most frequently prescribed antibiotic was trimethoprim sulfamethozaxole. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that evidence registered in the patient’s clinical record does not sustain the action of the family physician with regard to use of clinical criteria for prescription of antibiotics in patients < 5 years of age who are carriers of ADD.REFERENCES