ID-5184 Wonca Abstracts supplement A-K 13-10-23 - Flipbook - Page 60
WONCA 2023 Supplement 1: WONCA 2023 abstracts (A–K)
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Exploring GPs’ perception of the value of natural history
information and their awareness and use of guideline
resources
Kwame Boaitey, Tammy Hoffmann, Emma Baillie, Dr Mina Bakhit
Institute for Evidence-based Healthcare, Bond University
Background
The newest version of the Therapeutic Guidelines Antibiotic chapter introduced patient- and clinicianfacing resources to support decision making about antibiotic use for self-limiting infections. It is unclear
whether general practitioners (GPs) are aware of the natural history information in these resources
and use them. We explored GPs’ perception of the value of access to natural history information and
awareness and use of Therapeutic Guidelines’ resources (summary table, discussion boxes, decision
aids) to support antibiotic decision making.
Methods
Semistructured interviews with 21 Australian GPs. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and
thematically analysed by two independent researchers.
Results
Four themes emerged: (1) GPs perceive natural history information as valuable in consultations for selflimiting conditions and use it for a range of purposes, but desire specific information for infectious and
non-infectious conditions; (2) GPs’ reasons for using patient-facing resources were manifold, including
managing patients’ expectations for antibiotics, legitimising the decision to not provide antibiotics and
as a prescription substitute; (3) the guidelines are a useful and important educational resource but
typically not consulted at the time of deciding whether to prescribe antibiotics; and (4) experience and
attitude towards shared decision making and looking up information during consultations influenced
whether GPs involved patients in decision making and used a decision aid.
Conclusions
GPs perceived natural history information to be valuable in discussions about antibiotic use for
self-limiting conditions. Patient and clinician resources were generally perceived as useful, although
reasons for use varied, and a few barriers to use were reported.
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