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Table 2 Factors associated with antibiotic prescription: visits for common respiratory infections. Univariate and multivariate analysis

From: Why do paediatricians prescribe antibiotics? Results of an Italian regional project

Variable

N* of children

Antibiotic prescriptions

%

OR

(95% CI)

Adjusted OR

(95% CI)

Child's age

    

   ≤2 years

1370

33%

1

1

   >2 years

2943

40%

1.35 (1.18 - 1.55) *

0.98 (0.80 - 1.19)

Parent born abroad

    

   No

625

37%

1

1

   Yes

3653

45%

1.37 (1.16 - 1.63)*

1.71 (1.36 - 2.15) *

Day care attendance

    

   No

1461

34%

1

1

   Yes

2683

39%

1.27 (1.11 - 1.45)*

1.12 (0.93 - 1.35)

Was the parent expecting an antibiotic prescription?

    

   No

2524

19%

1

1

   Yes

1050

77%

14.21 (11.94 - 16.91)*

12.83 (10.43 - 15.79)*

   Don't know

712

49%

4.15 (3.48 - 4.96)*

3.48 (2.82 - 4.30) *

Exudate or tonsillar hyperemia

    

   No

2077

31%

1

1

   Yes

2275

44%

1.70 (1.50 - 1.93)*

1.63 (1.36 - 1.96) *

Facial pain

    

   No

4284

37%

1

1

   Yes

68

71%

4.03 (2.39 - 6.82)*

4.85 (2.25 - 10.46) *

Otalgia

    

   No

3505

33%

1

1

   Yes

847

60%

2.79 (2.39 - 3.25)*

2.02 (1.60 - 2.55) *

Periorbital edema

    

   No

4284

38%

1

1

   Yes

68

47%

1.47 (0.91 - 2.38)

1.67 (0.89 - 3.14)

Diarrhoea

    

   No

4224

38%

1

1

   Yes

128

24%

0.52 (0.34 - 0.78)*

0.55 (0.32 - 0.93) *

Cervical adenopathy

    

   No

3457

33%

1

1

   Yes

895

57%

2.67 (2.30 - 3.11)*

2.09 (1.70 - 2.59) *

Bulging tympanic membrane

    

   No

3959

34%

1

1

   Yes

393

78%

6.77 (5.29 - 8.65)*

5.68 (4.06 - 7.94) *

Otorrhea

    

   No

4281

37%

1

1

   Yes

71

96%

(12.20 - 123.60)*

28.06 (6.32 - 124.51)*

Rhinorrhea

    

   No

2.521

40%

1

1

   Yes

1.831

35%

0.83 (0.73 - 0.94)*

0.72 (0.61 - 0.86) *

Fever

    

   ≤38°C

2713

29%

1

1

   >38°C

1639

53%

2.86 (2.52 - 3.25) *

2.34 (1.97 - 2.79) *

Associated chronic diseases

    

   No

4135

38%

1

1

   Yes

217

44%

1.30 (0.98 - 1.71)

1.29 (0.88 - 1.88)

Physician age**

   

1.02 (0.95-1.10)

  1. * statistically significant p < 0.05
  2. **OR for 5 years of age increase