A randomized controlled trial of point-of-care evidence to improve the antibiotic prescribing practices for otitis media in children.

CONTEXT Prescribing practices for otitis media are not consistent with current evidence-based recommendations. OBJECTIVE To determine whether point-of-care evidence delivery regarding the use and duration of antibiotics for otitis media decreases the duration of therapy from 10 days and decreases the frequency of prescriptions written. DESIGN Randomized, controlled trial. SETTING Primary care pediatric clinic affiliated with university training program. Intervention. A point-of-care evidence-based message system presenting real time evidence to providers based on their prescribing practice for otitis media. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Proportion of prescriptions for otitis media that were for <10 days and frequency with which antibiotics were prescribed. RESULTS Intervention providers had a 34% greater reduction in the proportion of time they prescribed antibiotics for <10 days. Intervention providers were less likely to prescribe antibiotics than were control providers. CONCLUSIONS A point-of-care information system integrated into outpatient pediatric care can significantly influence provider behavior for a common condition.