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Survey of Clinical Pharmacists' Knowledge of Appropriateness of Antimicrobial Therapy for Upper Respiratory Infections and Acute Bronchitis
Author(s) -
Mainous Arch G.,
MacFarlane Lori L.,
Connor Margaret K.,
Green Lucy A.,
Fowler Kenneth,
Hueston William J.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
pharmacotherapy: the journal of human pharmacology and drug therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.227
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1875-9114
pISSN - 0277-0008
DOI - 10.1592/phco.19.6.388.31036
Subject(s) - medicine , bronchitis , sputum , medical prescription , antibiotics , chronic bronchitis , pharmacy , clinical pharmacy , family medicine , intensive care medicine , respiratory tract infections , tuberculosis , respiratory system , nursing , pathology , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
We conducted a survey to assess clinical pharmacists' recommendation of antibiotics for upper respiratory infections (URIs) and acute bronchitis. A random sample of 752 members of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy were mailed a multiple‐choice survey that presented four examples consistent with clinical symptoms of the two disorders. Respondents were asked what treatment they would recommend for each example. The response rate was 59%. Pharmacists recommended antibiotics for the treatment of both URIs and acute bronchitis significantly more if patients' symptoms included discolored discharge or sputum as opposed to clear discharge. Those who were board certified were less likely than nonboard‐certified pharmacists to recommend antibiotics for URIs with discolored discharge. Pharmacists who specialized in either ambulatory care or infectious disease were less likely than those in other specialties to recommend antibiotics for acute bronchitis with discolored sputum. Clinical pharmacists are similar to patients and physicians in their belief that antibiotics are appropriate for URIs and acute bronchitis with discolored discharge. Considering the role that pharmacists play as clinical consultants to physicians, greater efforts should be made to educate them regarding appropriate prescription of antibiotics.