Table 1 Summary of the interventions in the six trial arms
Overall prescribing in the last 12 months | Broad-spectrum prescribing in the last 12 months | Category | Headline message | Secondary message | Visual representation | Count of practices randomized into the group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Broad-spectrum letter vs control letter trial | ||||||
More than 1.161 items per STAR-PU (top 20%) | > 10% | Letter A1 (standard practice as control, overall prescribing letter) | [Practice name] prescribes more antibiotics than 80% of practices in England. | I am specifically writing to your practice because the great majority (80%) of practices in England prescribe fewer antibiotics per head (after adjustments for age and sex) than yours. | None | 201 |
Letter A2 (intervention letter, broad-spectrum prescribing with chart) | [Practice name] prescribes a higher proportion of broad-spectrum antibiotics than xx% of practices in England. | I am specifically writing to your practice because the great majority (xx%) of practices in England prescribe a lower proportion of broad-spectrum antibiotics than yours. | Broad-spectrum prescribing compared to peers (average) | 202 | ||
Broad-spectrum letter vs no letter trial | ||||||
0.965 items per STAR-PU | > 10% | No letter (standard practice, control). | n/a | n/a | n/a | 344 |
Letter C2 (intervention letter, broad-spectrum prescribing with chart) | [Practice name] prescribes a higher proportion of broad-spectrum antibiotics than xx% of practices in England. | I am specifically writing to your practice because the great majority (xx%) of practices in England prescribe a lower proportion of broad-spectrum antibiotics than yours. | Broad-spectrum prescribing compared to peers (average) | 344 | ||
Overall letter with chart vs control letter trial | ||||||
More than 1.161 items per STAR-PU (top 20%) | < 10% | Letter B1 (standard practice overall prescribing letter, control) | [Practice name] prescribes more antibiotics than 80% of practices in England. | I am specifically writing to your practice because the great majority (80%) of practices in England prescribe fewer antibiotics per head (after adjustments for age and sex) than yours. | None | 409 |
Letter B2 (intervention letter, overall prescribing with chart) | [Practice name] prescribes more antibiotics than xx% of practices in England. | I am specifically writing to your practice because the great majority (xx%) of practices in England prescribe fewer antibiotics per head (after adjustments for age and sex) than yours. | Overall prescribing compared to peers (average) | 409 | ||