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Improving Management of Patients with Acute Cough by C-reactive protein point of care testing and Communication Training

Completed
Conditions
Acute cough, respiratory tract infection
Respiratory
Respiratory tract infection
Registration Number
ISRCTN85154857
Lead Sponsor
niversity Maastricht (Netherlands)
Brief Summary

Not available

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
Completed
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
400
Inclusion Criteria

1. First consultation of current episode of acute cough (duration less than four weeks)
2. Regarded by the General Practitioner (GP) to be caused by an acute lower respiratory tract infection
3. At least one out of following four:
3.1. Shortness of breath
3.2. Wheezing
3.3. Chest pain
3.4. Auscultation abnormalities
4. At least one of the following five:
4.1. Fever
4.2. Perspiring
4.3. Headache
4.4. Myalgia
4.5. Feeling generally unwell

Exclusion Criteria

1. Patients who require immediate admission to hospital
2. Patients who have no understanding of written and/or spoken Dutch language
3. Patients who previously participated in the study
4. Patients who currently use antibiotic or have taken an antibiotic in the past two weeks
5. Patients who have been hospitalised in the past six weeks

Study & Design

Study Type
Interventional
Study Design
Not specified
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
1. Change (decrease) in antibiotic prescription<br>2. Clinical recovery and return to normal work and activities
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
1. Cost-effectiveness of PoC CRP and communication training<br>2. Use of medical services, including re-consultation<br>3. Change (decrease) in diagnostic testing other than PoC CRP
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