Feedback to GPs reduces antibiotic prescribing, study finds

Sending a letter to GPs in England who have above average antibiotic prescribing rates to give feedback on their prescribing habits reduced their antibiotic prescribing by an average of just over 3% in six months, a nationwide randomised trial shows.¹

Researchers used publicly available databases to identify 1581 general practices with antibiotic prescribing rates in the top 20% for their local area. They then randomly allocated GPs in these practices to receive a letter from England’s chief medical officer about their …