SummaryBackgroundHigh-volume prescribing of antibiotics in primary care is a major driver of antibiotic resistance. Education of physicians and patients can lower prescribing levels, but it frequently relies on highly trained staff. We assessed whether internet-based training methods could alter prescribing practices in multiple health-care systems.MethodsAfter a baseline audit in October to December, 2010, primary-care practices in six European countries were cluster randomised to usual care, training in the use of a C-reactive protein (CRP) test at point of care, in enhanced communication skills, or in both CRP and enhanced communication. Patients were recruited from February to May, 2011. This trial is registered, number ISRCTN99871214.ResultsThe baseline audit, done in 259 practices, provided data for 6771 patients with lower-respiratory-tract infections (3742 [55·3%]) and upper-respiratory-tract infections (1416 [20·9%]), of whom 5355 (79·1%) were prescribed antibiotics. After randomisation, 246 practices were included and 4264 patients were recruited. The antibiotic prescribing rate was lower with CRP training than without (33% vs 48%, adjusted risk ratio 0·54, 95% CI 0·42–0·69) and with enhanced-communication training than without (36% vs 45%, 0·69, 0·54–0·87). The combined intervention was associated with the greatest reduction in prescribing rate (CRP risk ratio 0·53, 95% CI 0·36–0·74, p<0·0001; enhanced communication 0·68, 0·50–0·89, p=0·003; combined 0·38, 0·25–0·55, p<0·0001).InterpretationInternet training achieved important reductions in antibiotic prescribing for respiratory-tract infections across language and cultural boundaries.FundingEuropean Commission Framework Programme 6, National Institute for Health Research, Research Foundation Flanders.

European Commission Framework Programme 6, UK National Institute for Health Research, Barcelona Ciberde Enfermedades Respiratorias, and Research Foundation Flanders.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical effectiveness of two modes of cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT) for IBS compared with treatment as usual (TAU) in refractory IBS.DesignA three-arm randomised controlled trial assessing telephone-delivered CBT (TCBT), web-based CBT (WCBT) with minimal therapist support, and TAU. Blinding participants and therapists was not possible. Chief investigator, assessors and statisticians were blinded. Participants were adults with refractory IBS (clinically significant symptoms for ≥12 months despite first-line therapies), recruited by letter and opportunistically from 74 general practices and three gastroenterology centres in London and South of England between May 2014 to March 2016. Co-primary outcomes were IBS Symptom Severity Score (IBS-SSS) and Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS) at 12 months.Results558/1452 (38.4%) patients screened for eligibility were randomised: 76% female: 91% white: mean age 43 years. (391/558) 70.1% completed 12 months of follow-up. Primary outcomes: Compared with TAU (IBS-SSS 205.6 at 12 months), IBS-SSS was 61.6 (95% CI 33.8 to 89.5) points lower (p<0.001) in TCBT and 35.2 (95% CI 12.6 to 57.8) points lower (p=0.002) in WCBT at 12 months. Compared with TAU (WSAS score 10.8 at 12 months) WSAS was 3.5 (95% CI 1.9 to 5.1) points lower (p<0.001) in TCBT and 3.0 (95% CI 1.3 to 4.6) points lower (p=0.001) in WCBT. All secondary outcomes showed significantly greater improvement (p≤0.002) in CBT arms compared with TAU. There were no serious adverse reactions to treatment.ConclusionBoth CBT interventions were superior to TAU up to 12 months of follow-up.Trial registration numberISRCTN44427879.

Background Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is common, affecting 10-20% of the adult population worldwide, with many people reporting ongoing symptoms despite first-line therapies. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is recommended in guidelines for refractory IBS but there is insufficient access to CBT for IBS and uncertainty about whether benefits last in the longer term. Assessing Cognitive behavioural Therapy for IBS (ACTIB) was a large, randomised, controlled trial of two forms of CBT for patients with refractory IBS. ACTIB results showed that, at 12 months, both forms of CBT for IBS were significantly more effective than treatment as usual at reducing IBS symptom severity in adults with refractory IBS. This follow-up study aimed to evaluate 24-month clinical outcomes of participants in the ACTIB trial. MethodsIn the ACTIB three-group, randomised, controlled trial, 558 adults with refractory IBS were randomly allocated to receive either therapist-delivered telephone CBT (telephone-CBT group), web-based CBT with minimal therapist support (web-CBT group), or treatment as usual (TAU group) and were followed up for 12 months. Participants were adults with refractory IBS (clinically significant symptoms for ≥12 months despite being offered first-line therapies), recruited by letter and opportunistically from 74 general practices and three gastroenterology centres in London and the south of England (UK) between May 1, 2014, and March 31, 2016. Primary outcome measures were IBS Symptom Severity Score (IBS-SSS) and Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS), assessed in the intention-to-treat (ITT) population with multiple imputation. This study was a non-prespecified naturalistic follow-up and analysis of the participants of the ACTIB trial at 24 months assessing the same outcomes as the original trial. Outcome measures were completed online by participants or a paper questionnaire was posted, or telephone follow-up undertaken. The ACTIB trial is registered with the International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number registry, number ISRCTN44427879. Findings 24-month follow-up of outcomes was achieved for 323 (58%) of 558 participants: 119 (64%) of 186 in the telephone-CBT group, 99 (54%) of 185 in the web-CBT group, and 105 (56%) of 187 in the TAU group. At 24 months, mean IBS-SSS was 40•5 points (95% CI 15•0 to 66•0; p=0•002) lower in the telephone-CBT group and 12•9 points (-12•9 to 38•8; p=0•33) lower in the web-CBT group than in the TAU group. The mean WSAS score was 3•1 points (1•3 to 4•9; p<0•001) lower in the telephone-CBT group and 1•9 points (0•1 to 3•7; p=0•036) lower in the web-CBT group than in the TAU group. A clinically significant IBS-SSS change (≥50 points) from baseline to 24 months was found in 84 (71%) of 119 participants in the telephone-CBT group, in 62 (63%) of 99 in the web-CBT group, and in 48 (46%) of 105 in the TAU group. In total 41 adverse events were reported between 12 to 24 months: 11 in the telephone-CBT group, 15 in the web-CBT group, and 15 in the TAU group. Of these, eight were ...

BackgroundTo reduce the spread of antibiotic resistance, there is a pressing need for worldwide implementation of effective interventions to promote more prudent prescribing of antibiotics for acute LRTI. This study is a process analysis of the GRACE/INTRO trial of a multifactorial intervention that reduced antibiotic prescribing for acute LRTI in six European countries. The aim was to understand how the interventions were implemented and to examine effects of the interventions on general practitioners’ (GPs’) and patients’ attitudes.MethodsGPs were cluster randomised to one of three intervention groups or a control group. The intervention groups received web-based training in either use of the C-reactive protein (CRP) test, communication skills and use of a patient booklet, or training in both. GP attitudes were measured before and after the intervention using constructs from the Theory of Planned Behaviour and a Website Satisfaction Questionnaire. Effects of the interventions on patients were assessed by a post-intervention questionnaire assessing patient enablement, satisfaction with the consultation, and beliefs about the risks and need for antibiotics.ResultsGPs in all countries and intervention groups had very positive perceptions of the intervention and the web-based training, and felt that taking part had helped them to reduce prescribing. All GPs perceived reducing prescribing as more important and less risky following the intervention, and GPs in the communication groups reported increased confidence to reduce prescribing. Patients in the communication groups who received the booklet reported the highest levels of enablement and satisfaction and had greater awareness that antibiotics could be unnecessary and harmful.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that the interventions should be broadly acceptable to both GPs and patients, as well as feasible to roll out more widely across Europe. There are also some indications that they could help to engender changes in GP and patient attitudes that will be helpful in the longer-term, such as increased awareness of the potential disadvantages of antibiotics and increased confidence to manage LRTI without them. Given the positive effects of the booklet on patient beliefs and attitudes, it seems logical to extend the use of the patient booklet to all patients.