To the Editor: I was interested to gain some insight into the drivers of antibiotic prescribing in Australian residential aged care facilities (RACFs).1 I was surprised, though, that Lim and colleagues did not include residents or their families in consultations, opting to focus solely on the perspectives of health care providers.
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- 1. Lim CJ, Kwong MW-L, Stuart RL, et al. Antibiotic prescribing practice in residential aged care facilities — health care providers' perspectives. Med J Aust 2014; 201: 101-105. <MJA full text>
- 2. McKenzie D, Rawlins M, Del Mar C. Antibiotic stewardship: what's it all about? Aust Prescr 2013; 36: 116-120.
- 3. Mustafa M, Wood F, Butler CC, Elwyn G. Managing expectations of antibiotics for upper respiratory tract infections: a qualitative study. Ann Fam Med 2014; 12: 29-36.
- 4. Cockburn J, Pit S. Prescribing behaviour in clinical practice: patients' expectations and doctors' perceptions of patients' expectations — a questionnaire study. BMJ 1997; 315: 520-523.
- 5. Coenen S, Francis N, Kelly M, et al. Are patient views about antibiotics related to clinician perceptions, management and outcome? A multi-country study in outpatients with acute cough. PLOS One 2013; 8: e76691.
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The views expressed in this letter are mine and do not necessarily represent those of Therapeutic Guidelines Limited.