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Erschienen in: Wiener klinische Wochenschrift 17-18/2012

01.09.2012 | original article

Evaluation of the implementation of a rapid streptococcal antigen test in a routine primary health care setting

From recommendations to practice

verfasst von: Kathryn Hoffmann, M.D., M.P.H., Berthold Reichardt, DI, Sonja Zehetmayer, Ph.D., Prof. Manfred Maier, M.D.

Erschienen in: Wiener klinische Wochenschrift | Ausgabe 17-18/2012

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Summary

Background and aim

Pharyngitis is a common reason for consultation in General Practice. Despite the development of diagnostic criteria it remains difficult to clinically diagnose the bacterial type. Therefore, current guidelines recommend the additional use of objective tests. In Austria, the Burgenländische Gebietskrankenkasse introduced a test as service for patients and regular payment position for GPs. It was the aim of this study to analyze this implementation process in General Practice and a possible change in antibiotic prescriptions.

Methods

The retrospective evaluation lasted from April 2006 to September 2009; in April 2007, rapid-streptococcal-antigen-tests (RSATs) were introduced. GPs were grouped into three clusters according to their use of RSATs. In addition, all antibiotic prescriptions within the evaluation period were analyzed and correlated to the three clusters before and after the implementation.

Results

The overall number of RSATs performed was 6,401. Half of the GPs utilized it regularly. After its introduction, the relative antibiotic prescription frequency was significantly reduced (17.1 vs. 16.4 %, p = 0.0001). The results for the subgroup analyses yielded a significant reduction for the regular user group only (16.0 vs. 15.0 %, p = 0.0001).

Conclusion

GPs using the RSAT regularly seem to apply the test appropriately. The decrease of the relative antibiotic prescriptions of all GPs seems to be due to the regular user group of GPs. This could be interpreted as a consequence of the RSAT use. The results show a positive trend for an improvement in diagnostic quality and for an appropriate use of antibiotic prescriptions.
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Metadaten
Titel
Evaluation of the implementation of a rapid streptococcal antigen test in a routine primary health care setting
From recommendations to practice
verfasst von
Kathryn Hoffmann, M.D., M.P.H.
Berthold Reichardt, DI
Sonja Zehetmayer, Ph.D.
Prof. Manfred Maier, M.D.
Publikationsdatum
01.09.2012
Verlag
Springer Vienna
Erschienen in
Wiener klinische Wochenschrift / Ausgabe 17-18/2012
Print ISSN: 0043-5325
Elektronische ISSN: 1613-7671
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-012-0225-y

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