The reasons and rate of antibiotic use for acute upper respiratory tract infections in primary healthcare institutions of Kaunas county

Most commonly AURTI are caused by viruses, and since antibiotics are ineffective against viral infections, researchers in a number of countries have concluded that the rates of antibiotic prescription for AURTI are unjustifiably high. The aim of the study was to determine and evaluate the reasons and rate of antibiotic use for the treatment of AURTI in primary healthcare units of Kaunas County. The objectives of the study were to determine the rate of prescribing antibiotics for AURTI; to evaluate the patients’ expectations to receive antibiotics for AURTI and to assess the relationship of these expectations with the physicians’ decision to prescribe antibiotics for this disorder; to evaluate the associations of the phy¬sician’s age, specialty and working environment with the decision to prescribe antibiotics for patients with AURTI. Conclusions: One-third of patients who visited PHC institutions expected to receive prescriptions for antibiotics. The patients’ expectations to receive antibiotics for the treatment of AURTI was related to the physicians’ decision to prescribe antibiotics. Physicians of PHC institutions of Kaunas County prescribe antibiotics for AURTI in 40.2% of cases. With unjustified rate (32.8%) antibiotics are prescribed for “common cold”. Internists who had re-qualified as family physicians and older physi¬cians prescribed antibiotics more frequently, compared to those who had comple¬ted full-time residency in family medicine and younger physicians