Internet-Based Physician Training Lowers Antibiotic Prescribing for Respiratory Tract Infections

Antibiotic resistance is driven, in large part, by antibiotic prescribing for primary care patients with respiratory tract infections (RTIs). Training primary care physicians in point-of-care testing for C-reactive protein (CRP) to predict pneumonia (NEJM JW Gen Med May 30 2013) and in advanced communication skills reduce antibiotic prescribing, but such training is labor-intensive and costly. Researchers enrolled 246 primary care practices in six European countries; within each practice, physicians were randomized to receive internet-based training in CRP testing, internet-based training in advanced communication skills, combined training, or neither (usual care). Researchers then assessed data from 4264 adults who were treated in these pr…