ArticlePloS one2021
Provider views on rapid diagnostic tests and antibiotic prescribing for respiratory tract infections: A mixed methods study.
Article in PloS one, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.
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Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed.
- Impact of Multiplex PCR Blood-Culture Identification Panels on Clinical Outcomes, Antimicrobial Stewardship, and Economic Impact in US Hospitals: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Open forum infectious diseases · 2026Review
- Implementation of procalcitonin-guided antibiotic stopping advice in sepsis: A mixed-methods process evaluation in a clinical trial context.Journal of the Intensive Care Society · 2026Article
- Implementation of the BIOFIRE Meningitis/Encephalitis Panel: A Mixed-Methods Implementation Study in a Nonmetropolitan Tertiary Hospital.Open forum infectious diseases · 2026Article
- Using learner verification and transcreation to develop multicultural patient education materials for acute respiratory tract infections to decrease inappropriate antibiotic prescribing.PEC innovation · 2025Article
- Primary Care Antibiotic Prescribing and Infection-Related Hospitalisation.Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Review
- Rapid diagnostics to enhance therapy selection for the treatment of bacterial infections.Current pharmacology reports · 2023Article
- Diagnostic Stewardship as a Team Sport: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Improved Implementation of Interventions and Effect Measurement.Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Review
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundRespiratory tract infections (RTIs) are often inappropriately treated with antibiotics. Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) have been developed with the aim of improving antibiotic prescribing but uptake remains low. The aim of this study was to examine provider knowledge, attitudes and behaviors regarding RDT use and their relationship to antibiotic prescribing decisions across multiple clinical departments in an urban safety-net hospital.
methodsWe conducted a mixed methods sequential explanatory study. Providers with prescribing authority (attending physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants) who had at least 20 RTI encounters from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018. Eighty-five providers completed surveys and 16 participated in interviews. We conducted electronic surveys via RedCap from April to July 2019, followed by semi-structured individual interviews from October to December 2019, to ascertain knowledge, attitudes and behaviors related to RDT use and antibiotic prescribing.
resultsSurvey findings indicated that providers felt knowledgeable about antibiotic prescribing guidelines. They reported high familiarity with the rapid streptococcus and rapid influenza tests. Familiarity with comprehensive respiratory panel PCR (RPP-respiratory panel PCR) and procalcitonin differed by clinical department. Qualitative interviews identified four main themes: providers trust their clinical judgment more than rapid test results; patient-provider relationships play an important role in prescribing decisions; there is patient demand for antibiotics and providers employ different strategies to address the demand and providers do not believe RDTs are implemented with sufficient education or evidence for clinical practice.
conclusionPrescribers are knowledgeable about prescribing guidelines but often rely on clinical judgement to make final decisions. The utility of RDTs is specific to the type of RDT and the clinical department. Given the low familiarity and clinical utility of RPP and procalcitonin, providers may require additional education and these tests may need to be implemented differently based on clinical department.
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