Impact of COVID-19 on Antibiotic Prescribing by Dentists
Author Information
Author(s): Patel Akshani, Kumar Satish
Primary Institution: Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health, A.T. Still University, Mesa, AZ USA
Hypothesis
Did the COVID-19 pandemic impact antibiotic prescribing patterns among dentists?
Conclusion
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly increased antibiotic prescriptions despite fewer in-person consultations.
Supporting Evidence
- Antibiotic prescriptions increased from 1109 pre-COVID-19 to 1571 during COVID-19.
- 53.1% of antibiotics prescribed pre-COVID-19 were not clinically indicated.
- 54.3% of antibiotics prescribed during COVID-19 were not clinically indicated.
- Amoxicillin was the most commonly prescribed antibiotic in both periods.
Takeaway
During the COVID-19 pandemic, dentists prescribed more antibiotics even though fewer patients were seen, which is concerning because many prescriptions were unnecessary.
Methodology
Patient records were collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-squared, and z-tests to compare pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 prescription patterns.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the retrospective design and reliance on patient records.
Limitations
The study focused on data from one oral health center, which may limit generalizability, and did not include private practices.
Participant Demographics
Patients who received antibiotic prescriptions at Wits Oral Health Centre.
Statistical Information
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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