Abstract

Rationale, aims and objectives This study aims to explore the relationship between doctor characteristics and prescribing behaviour for patients with urinary tract infections (UTIs) using a 2-year population-based data set in Taiwan. Methods This study used data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. Our study sample consists of first-time ambulatory care visits for treatment of UTIs among female patients between 2005 and 2006 (n = 45 934). The primary outcome studied was 'whether a broad-spectrum antibiotic was prescribed', and the key independent variables were 'doctor characteristics'. Doctor characteristics included gender, age (50), specialty, type (hospital-based vs. office-based) and practice location. Multivariate logistic regression analysis using generalized estimated equations was performed to assess the adjusted odds ratio of the doctors using broad-spectrum antibiotics. Results Among the sampled patients, 13.5% were prescribed broad-spectrum antibiotics at their first visit for treatment of UTIs. The adjusted odds of prescribing second-line antibiotics for doctors aged between 41-50 years and >50 years were 0.80 (P <0.001) and 0.90 (P = 0.007) times, respectively, that of doctors aged

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1221-1226
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice
Volume16
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2010

Keywords

  • broad-spectrum antibiotics
  • prescribing behaviour
  • urinary tract infections

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Health Policy

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