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The results of the PRUDENCE trial, published in The Lancet Primary Care took place in 13 European countries. Part of the randomised controlled trial with 2,639 patients in all 13 countries was an in-depth qualitative evaluation involving clinicians and patients in six countries.
Together, the studies provide the most comprehensive evaluation to date of whether rapid diagnostic testing can meaningfully decrease antibiotic use in real-world primary care settings without having a negative impact on patient recovery.
Around 90% of antibiotics are prescribed by GPs in primary care, and most of these prescriptions are for respiratory infections such as sore throats and coughs, which are usually caused by viruses and do not need antibiotics.
Point-of-care tests have been widely promoted as a diagnostic tools to help clinicians in treatment decision making, thereby reducing unnecessary prescriptions.