A randomized controlled trial of point-of-care evidence to improve the antibiotic prescribing practices for otitis media in children.

CONTEXT:

Prescribing practices for otitis media are not consistent with current evidence-based recommendations.

OBJECTIVE:

To determine whether point-of-care evidence delivery regarding the use and duration of antibiotics for otitis media decreases the duration of therapy from 10 days and decreases the frequency of prescriptions written.

DESIGN:

Randomized, controlled trial.

SETTING:

Primary care pediatric clinic affiliated with university training program. Intervention. A point-of-care evidence-based message system presenting real time evidence to providers based on their prescribing practice for otitis media.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Proportion of prescriptions for otitis media that were for <10 days and frequency with which antibiotics were prescribed.

RESULTS:

Intervention providers had a 34% greater reduction in the proportion of time they prescribed antibiotics for <10 days. Intervention providers were less likely to prescribe antibiotics than were control providers.

CONCLUSIONS:

A point-of-care information system integrated into outpatient pediatric care can significantly influence provider behavior for a common condition.