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Ed Yeates ReportingDon't be surprised in your next visit if your doctor is holding something in his hand to better evaluate your illness before he prescribes an antibiotic. The tool is the byproduct of a multi-year Utah study to encourage physicians and patients to stop using antibiotics for the wrong kinds of infections.
The study began in Utah's rural towns more than four years ago. Hometown doctors were encouraged to use the right medication for the right illness, even though patients often believed they needed an antibiotic.
Matthew Samore, M.D., lLead Researcher, U of U Division of Epidemiology: "Overuse of antibiotics is extremely entrenched. It's not surprising that it takes time to begin to make a dent in that."
Dr. Matthew Samore with the University of Utah says 50 percent of antibiotics are still being prescribed inappropriately, but attitudes are changing - especially among those who participated in the study. And the next phase of the project may turn the tide even more.
To document the study, volunteer physicians used a palm pilot, which helped them rapidly evaluate a patient's diagnosis, even prescribing the appropriate medication. But it's difficult to get a doctor to carry something like that around all the time, unless, as the physicians themselves suggested..
Kim Bateman, M.D., Project Researcher, Health Insight: "Look, you're taking me all the way through the decision tree here with an antibiotic recommendation. Why should I have to lay down the palm pilot and write out a prescription? Can't you give me a button that would give me the prescription? So we've done that."
Dr. Kim Bateman says the next phase of palm pilots will do almost everything.
Dr. Bateman: "The idea we came up with was not only printing out an antibiotic prescription - what if a doctor could print out all of his prescriptions - in fact, all his lab orders and x-ray orders as well. Then the doctor will have that in his hand all the time."
This not only makes it easier for doctors. Patients too can see the evaluation, what they should or shouldn't be getting for a treatment.
The educational campaign has even come down to the level of a child. A card game called the germinator has been developed to help teach the difference between treatment and prevention. It even identifies nasty bugs that may become resistant to drugs.
Blocking bugs so they don't become superbugs - we must! That's why this study is far from over.
