The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on antibiotic prescription rates in out-of-hours primary care – a register-based study in Denmark
Background Antibiotic prescription rates can be affected by pandemic measures such as lockdowns, social distancing, and remote consultations in general practice. Therefore, such emergency states may negatively affect antimicrobial stewardship, specifically in out-of-hours (OOH) primary care. As cont...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02813432.2024.2410331 |
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| author | Emil Krogh Katrine Bjørnshave Bomholt Mette Amalie Nebsbjerg Claus Høstrup Vestergaard Morten Bondo Christensen Linda Huibers |
| author_facet | Emil Krogh Katrine Bjørnshave Bomholt Mette Amalie Nebsbjerg Claus Høstrup Vestergaard Morten Bondo Christensen Linda Huibers |
| author_sort | Emil Krogh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background Antibiotic prescription rates can be affected by pandemic measures such as lockdowns, social distancing, and remote consultations in general practice. Therefore, such emergency states may negatively affect antimicrobial stewardship, specifically in out-of-hours (OOH) primary care. As contact patterns changed in the COVID-19 pandemic, it would be relevant to explore the impact on antimicrobial stewardship.Aim To study the impact of the pandemic on antibiotic prescription rates in OOH primary care, overall and per age group.Methods This cross-sectional register-based study used routine data from OOH primary care in the Central Denmark Region. We included all patient contacts in two equivalent time periods: pre-pandemic and pandemic period. The main outcome measure was defined as the number of antibiotic prescriptions per contact (antibiotic prescription rate).Results The overall antibiotic prescription rate decreased during the first year of the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period (RR = 0.97, 95%CI: 0.96–0.98). Likewise, the rate decreased for clinic consultations (RR = 0.63, 95%CI: 0.62–0.64). However, an increase was seen for telephone consultations (RR = 1.73, 95%CI: 1.70–1.76). The decline in clinic consultations was largest for consultations involving children aged 0–10 years (RR = 0.53, 95%CI: 0.51–0.56).Conclusion Antibiotic prescription rates in Danish OOH primary care decreased during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for young children. Prescription rates decreased in clinic consultations, whereas the rates increased in telephone consultations. Further research should explore if antibiotic prescription rates have returned to pre-pandemic levels, and if the introduction of video consultations has affected antibiotic prescription patterns in OOH primary care. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4a46da9ef60f4fb28ccd4abf319edbed |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0281-3432 1502-7724 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care |
| spelling | doaj-art-4a46da9ef60f4fb28ccd4abf319edbed2025-08-20T03:51:29ZengTaylor & Francis GroupScandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care0281-34321502-77242025-01-0143114014710.1080/02813432.2024.2410331The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on antibiotic prescription rates in out-of-hours primary care – a register-based study in DenmarkEmil Krogh0Katrine Bjørnshave Bomholt1Mette Amalie Nebsbjerg2Claus Høstrup Vestergaard3Morten Bondo Christensen4Linda Huibers5Research Unit for General Practice, Aarhus, DenmarkResearch Unit for General Practice, Aarhus, DenmarkResearch Unit for General Practice, Aarhus, DenmarkResearch Unit for General Practice, Aarhus, DenmarkResearch Unit for General Practice, Aarhus, DenmarkResearch Unit for General Practice, Aarhus, DenmarkBackground Antibiotic prescription rates can be affected by pandemic measures such as lockdowns, social distancing, and remote consultations in general practice. Therefore, such emergency states may negatively affect antimicrobial stewardship, specifically in out-of-hours (OOH) primary care. As contact patterns changed in the COVID-19 pandemic, it would be relevant to explore the impact on antimicrobial stewardship.Aim To study the impact of the pandemic on antibiotic prescription rates in OOH primary care, overall and per age group.Methods This cross-sectional register-based study used routine data from OOH primary care in the Central Denmark Region. We included all patient contacts in two equivalent time periods: pre-pandemic and pandemic period. The main outcome measure was defined as the number of antibiotic prescriptions per contact (antibiotic prescription rate).Results The overall antibiotic prescription rate decreased during the first year of the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period (RR = 0.97, 95%CI: 0.96–0.98). Likewise, the rate decreased for clinic consultations (RR = 0.63, 95%CI: 0.62–0.64). However, an increase was seen for telephone consultations (RR = 1.73, 95%CI: 1.70–1.76). The decline in clinic consultations was largest for consultations involving children aged 0–10 years (RR = 0.53, 95%CI: 0.51–0.56).Conclusion Antibiotic prescription rates in Danish OOH primary care decreased during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for young children. Prescription rates decreased in clinic consultations, whereas the rates increased in telephone consultations. Further research should explore if antibiotic prescription rates have returned to pre-pandemic levels, and if the introduction of video consultations has affected antibiotic prescription patterns in OOH primary care.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02813432.2024.2410331COVID-19anti-Bacterial agentsdrug prescriptionsgeneral practiceafter-hours careout-of-hours medical care |
| spellingShingle | Emil Krogh Katrine Bjørnshave Bomholt Mette Amalie Nebsbjerg Claus Høstrup Vestergaard Morten Bondo Christensen Linda Huibers The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on antibiotic prescription rates in out-of-hours primary care – a register-based study in Denmark Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care COVID-19 anti-Bacterial agents drug prescriptions general practice after-hours care out-of-hours medical care |
| title | The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on antibiotic prescription rates in out-of-hours primary care – a register-based study in Denmark |
| title_full | The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on antibiotic prescription rates in out-of-hours primary care – a register-based study in Denmark |
| title_fullStr | The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on antibiotic prescription rates in out-of-hours primary care – a register-based study in Denmark |
| title_full_unstemmed | The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on antibiotic prescription rates in out-of-hours primary care – a register-based study in Denmark |
| title_short | The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on antibiotic prescription rates in out-of-hours primary care – a register-based study in Denmark |
| title_sort | impact of the covid 19 pandemic on antibiotic prescription rates in out of hours primary care a register based study in denmark |
| topic | COVID-19 anti-Bacterial agents drug prescriptions general practice after-hours care out-of-hours medical care |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02813432.2024.2410331 |
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