Contacting GPs to reduce unnecessary prescriptions of antibiotics
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Contacting GPs to reduce unnecessary prescriptions of antibiotics
IRAS ID
161547
Contact name
Tim Chadborn
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Public Health England
Research summary
This study is a randomised controlled trial that involves sending letters to GPs in England in practices that prescribe antibiotics at a higher rate than their peers. The letters will be addressed from the Chief Medical Officer, and will inform these practices that they are in the top 20% of prescribers of antibiotics in the NHS Local Area team (controlling for age and gender using official prescription weightings). The control group will not receive a letter. The study will assess the impact of these letters on subsequent antibiotic prescribing rates by these GPs (as measured by publicly-available prescribing data). Letters will be issued in late September 2014, and results will be available in January 2015.
REC name
London - Harrow Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/1544
Date of REC Opinion
19 Sep 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion