The CHIldren with COugh Randomised Controlled Trial (The CHICO RCT)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A clinical effectiveness investigation of a multi-faceted intervention (incorporating a prognostic algorithm) to improve management of antibiotics for CHIldren presenting to primary care with acute COugh and respiratory tract infection (CHICO): an efficient cluster RCT informed by a feasibility RCT
IRAS ID
229389
Contact name
Peter S. Blair
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Bristol
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 8 months, 30 days
Research summary
TITLE: A clinical effectiveness investigation of a clinician decision aid to improve management of antibiotics for children (aged 0-9 years) presenting to GP practices with a cough/respiratory tract infections (RTIs)\n\nBACKGROUND: Coughs and colds (RTIs) are the most common reason that children visit GP surgeries. Clinicians (doctors and nurses) are not always sure how best to treat them and often use antibiotics ‘just in case’. There are concerns that clinicians use antibiotics too often and that this is increasing the number of resistant bugs (bacteria that are not killed by antibiotics). \n\nFrom a 5 year programme of NIHR funded work, the research team have developed an intervention that helps clinicians to know which children are very unlikely to benefit from an antibiotic. \n\nThe intervention includes a decision aid which lets the clinician know if a child is likely to get well without antibiotics (the tool provides information, but the clinician still makes the final decision on the treatment received, based on what they believe is in the child’s best interests). Clinicians will listen to parents’ concerns and giving them a personalised leaflet with care and safety advice.\n\nAIM: The main aim of the study is to see if our intervention is effective, safe and easy to use. \n\nTHE STUDY: 310 GP practices will take part in the study for 12-months. Half of the practices will use the intervention and half will continue with their usual care. Data collected will be used to work out if antibiotic dispensing levels are different between the practices using the intervention compared to those that do not. We are also interested in whether the hospitalisation rates remain the same in both groups of practices. \n\nData will be collected on children aged 0-9 years old \n\nThe study is being run by researchers at the University of Bristol.\nFunding: HTA NIHR
REC name
London - Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/LO/0345
Date of REC Opinion
1 Jun 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion