Developing and evaluating interventions to reduce inappropriate prescribing by general practitioners of antibiotics for upper respiratory tract infections

TY - JOUR

T1 - Developing and evaluating interventions to reduce inappropriate prescribing by general practitioners of antibiotics for upper respiratory tract infections

T2 - A randomised controlled trial to compare paper-based and web-based modelling experiments

A1 - Treweek,Shaun

A1 - Ricketts,Ian W.

A1 - Francis,Jillian

A1 - Eccles,Martin

A1 - Bonetti,Debbie

A1 - Pitts,Nigel B.

A1 - MacLennan,Graeme

A1 - Sullivan,Frank

A1 - Jones,Claire

A1 - Weal,Mark

A1 - Barnett,Karen

AU - Treweek,Shaun

AU - Ricketts,Ian W.

AU - Francis,Jillian

AU - Eccles,Martin

AU - Bonetti,Debbie

AU - Pitts,Nigel B.

AU - MacLennan,Graeme

AU - Sullivan,Frank

AU - Jones,Claire

AU - Weal,Mark

AU - Barnett,Karen

PY - 2011/3/3

Y1 - 2011/3/3

N2 - <p>Background: Much implementation research is focused on full-scale trials with little evidence of preceding modelling work. The Medical Research Council Framework for developing and evaluating complex interventions has argued for more and better theoretical and exploratory work prior to a trial as a means of improving intervention development. Intervention modelling experiments (IMEs) are a way of exploring and refining an intervention before moving to a full-scale trial. They do this by delivering key elements of the intervention in a simulation that approximates clinical practice by, for example, presenting general practitioners (GPs) with a clinical scenario about making a treatment decision.</p><p>Methods: The current proposal will run a full, web-based IME involving 250 GPs that will advance the methodology of IMEs by directly comparing results with an earlier paper-based IME. Moreover, the web-based IME will evaluate an intervention that can be put into a full-scale trial that aims to reduce antibiotic prescribing for upper respiratory tract infections in primary care. The study will also include a trial of email versus postal invitations to participate.</p><p>Discussion: More effective behaviour change interventions are needed and this study will develop one such intervention and a system to model and test future interventions. This system will be applicable to any situation in the National Health Service where behaviour needs to be modified, including interventions aimed directly at the public.</p>

AB - <p>Background: Much implementation research is focused on full-scale trials with little evidence of preceding modelling work. The Medical Research Council Framework for developing and evaluating complex interventions has argued for more and better theoretical and exploratory work prior to a trial as a means of improving intervention development. Intervention modelling experiments (IMEs) are a way of exploring and refining an intervention before moving to a full-scale trial. They do this by delivering key elements of the intervention in a simulation that approximates clinical practice by, for example, presenting general practitioners (GPs) with a clinical scenario about making a treatment decision.</p><p>Methods: The current proposal will run a full, web-based IME involving 250 GPs that will advance the methodology of IMEs by directly comparing results with an earlier paper-based IME. Moreover, the web-based IME will evaluate an intervention that can be put into a full-scale trial that aims to reduce antibiotic prescribing for upper respiratory tract infections in primary care. The study will also include a trial of email versus postal invitations to participate.</p><p>Discussion: More effective behaviour change interventions are needed and this study will develop one such intervention and a system to model and test future interventions. This system will be applicable to any situation in the National Health Service where behaviour needs to be modified, including interventions aimed directly at the public.</p>

KW - IMPLEMENTATION

U2 - 10.1186/1748-5908-6-16

DO - 10.1186/1748-5908-6-16

M1 - Article

JO - Implementation Science

JF - Implementation Science

SN - 1748-5908

VL - 6

SP - -

ER -