Improving Patient-centered Communication and Antibiotic Use With Information Sheets for Acute Respiratory Tract Infections: A Study Protocol

Improving Patient-centered Communication and Antibiotic Use With Information Sheets for Acute Respiratory Tract Infections: Study Protocol for a Pragmatic Cluster Randomized Trial in Danish General Practice (INFO-ARTI).

The goal of this trial is to investigate if the use of information sheets regarding acute respiratory tract infections will lead to more rational antibiotic prescribing and increase patient-centered communication i Danish general practice.

The main questions to be answered:

• Will the use of information sheets lower antibiotic prescribing.
• Will the use of information sheets increase patient-centered communication.

We will compare use of information sheets in the consultation with patients with symptoms of acute respiratory tract infections to usual care (control) to find out if information sheets lower antibiotic prescribing.

Participants will be presented to the information sheets during the consultation regarding symptoms of acute respiratory tract infection.

Participants will fill in a short questionaire regarding patient-centered communication shortly after the consultation.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Eligible patients must contact the general practice clinic with symptoms of either acute pharyngotonsillitis, acute rhinosinusitis or acute bronchitis and should be above 18 years of age.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Prior antibiotic treatment for the current episode of acute respiratory tract infections.
• Urgent need of hospitalization.
• Patients who do not understand Danish.
• Patients not listed within the general practice clinic.