Table 2.

Re-consultation with new or worsening symptoms in the month following the index consultation, according to duration of antibiotic prescribed and antibiotic classa

Reported new or worsening symptoms, n (%)Univariate risk ratio (95% CI, P-value)Risk ratio controlling for baseline severity and clustering (95% CI, P-value)Risk ratio controlling for propensity score (95% CI), P-valueRisk ratio controlling for propensity score in the imputed dataset (95% CI), P-value
Duration of antibiotic prescription
5 days (reference category)222/1449 (15.3)1.001.001.001.00
7 days577/4135 (13.9)0.91 (0.75 to 1.05)
P= 0.201
0.93 (0.78 to 1.08)
P= 0.321
0.92 (0.76 to 1.11)
P= 0.377
0.92 (0.76 to 1.10)
P= 0.360
10 days198/1620 (12.2)0.80 (0.67 to 0.95)
P= 0.013
0.81 (0.55 to 1.19)
P= 0.287
0.86 (0.59 to 1.23)
P= 0.408
0.85 (0.59 to 1.23)
P= 0.395
Antibiotic class
Phenoxymethylpenicillin (reference category)725/5624 (12.9)1.001.001.001.00
Other antibiotics302/1847 (16.3)1.27 (1.12 to 1.44)
P<0.001
1.28 (1.11 to 1.47)
P= 0.001
1.27 (1.11 to 1.49)
P= 0.002
1.26 (1.09 to 1.45)
P= 0.001
  • a All models controlled for immediate or delayed prescribing and clustering of patients by practice.