Expectations, advice and antibiotic prescriptions reported by respondents who accessed primary care for their own or their child’s respiratory (cough, throat, ear, sinus, chest infection) or influenza symptoms or a cold/runny nose in the past 12 months
| Respiratory or influenza symptoms | Cold/runny nose | |||
| n=242* | n=141† | n=61‡ | n=53§ | |
| What did you EXPECT from your contact/visit for this most recent illness? | Self | Child | Self | Child |
| To be prescribed antibiotics | 38% (93) | 27% (39) | 29% (18) | 13% (6) |
| To be prescribed treatment for symptoms | 34% (85) | 33% (46) | 25% (15) | 22% (10) |
| Advice about whether antibiotics were needed | 19% (47) | 23% (32) | 24% (14) | 21% (11) |
| What HAPPENED? | ||||
| Antibiotics were prescribed | 57% (136) | 41% (57) | 31% (20) | 33% (17) |
| Treatment to relieve/reduce symptoms was prescribed | 30% (72) | 24% (36) | 26% (16) | 16% (9) |
| Advice was given about whether antibiotics were needed | 15% (36) | 25% (35) | 16% (11) | 12% (5) |
*Respondents with respiratory (cough, throat, ear, sinus, chest infection) or influenza symptoms in the past 12 months (n=936) who visited or contacted a doctor’s surgery or visited a NHS Walk-In Centre or GP out-of-hours service for these symptoms (n=242).
†Respondents with a child under 5 (n=777) who had respiratory (cough, throat, ear, chest infection) or influenza symptoms in the past 12 months (n=265) who visited or contacted a doctor’s surgery or visited a NHS Walk-In Centre or GP out-of-hours service because of the child’s symptoms (n=141).
‡Respondents with a cold or a runny nose in the past 12 months (n=853) who visited or contacted a doctor’s surgery or visited a NHS Walk-In Centre or GP out-of-hours service for their illness (n=63).
§Respondents with a child under 5 (n=777) who had a cold or a runny nose in the past 12 months (n=262) who visited or contacted a doctor’s surgery or visited a NHS Walk-In Centre or GP out-of-hours service because of the child’s illness (n=53).
NHS, National Health Service.