> Bradley Cheek wrote:
> >
> > I must have missed this reference myself - does anyone know it?
> >
> >Penicillin in sore throat by Whitfield MJ and Hughes AO Practitioner Feb 1981 Vol 225 pp 234 to 239 doesn't define the causative organism but
> shows that recovery rate is virtually the same for treatment with
> penicillin or placebo. Conclusion....antibiotics have a very small part
> to play in the treatment ...patients should be educated not to expect
> antibiotic treatment ....self medication is appropriate.
PS. I should have added that this paper is worth getting hold of
1. because it contains decent numbers of patients which should have been
enough to allow for important differences to show through.
2. There is a nice graph showing speed of response to penicillin v
placebo which is useful for showing to patients. We use it to show to
patients to allow them to make decisions about prescribing for
themselves. Our antibiotic prescribing is around 30 percent below
average. I would accept that we dont have an inner city practice nor much
ethnic minority representation which could influence the ease with which
we can mould cultural beliefs.
Bern
--
Dr Bernard Bedford email [log in to unmask]
Waterside Health Centre tel: 01703 845955
Beaulieu Road
Hythe
Southampton
SO45 5WX
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