Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Antibiotic Prescribing by Dentists in Galicia, Spain: A Quasi-Experimental Approach
Background: Antibiotic resistance is one of the most pressing public health problems. Health authorities, patients, and health professionals, including dentists, are all involved in its development. COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on dental care may have had repercussions on antibiotic prescribing by...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Antibiotics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/11/8/1018 |
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| author | Almudena Rodríguez-Fernández Olalla Vázquez-Cancela María Piñeiro-Lamas Adolfo Figueiras Maruxa Zapata-Cachafeiro |
| author_facet | Almudena Rodríguez-Fernández Olalla Vázquez-Cancela María Piñeiro-Lamas Adolfo Figueiras Maruxa Zapata-Cachafeiro |
| author_sort | Almudena Rodríguez-Fernández |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Antibiotic resistance is one of the most pressing public health problems. Health authorities, patients, and health professionals, including dentists, are all involved in its development. COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on dental care may have had repercussions on antibiotic prescribing by dentists. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on antibiotic prescribing by dentists, and to review antibiotic consumption according to the WHO Access, Watch, Reserve classification. We conducted a natural, before-and-after, quasi-experimental study, using antibiotic prescription data covering the period from January 2017 to May 2021. A segmented regression analysis with interrupted time series data was used to analyse the differences between the numbers of defined daily doses (DDD) of antibiotics prescribed monthly. The outcomes showed an immediate significant decrease in overall antibiotic prescribing by primary-care dentists during lockdown, followed by a non-significant upward trend for the next year. This same pattern was, likewise, observed for Access and Watch antibiotics. COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on dental care influenced the prescription of antibiotics. During confinement, an initial decrease was observed, this trend changed when in person consultations were recovered. It might be beneficial to analyse the prescription of antibiotics using the WHO AWaRe classification, in order to monitor their appropriate use. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T11:59:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5f61df9da7ac47d1a9c98ddc5fd6a865 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-6382 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T11:59:29Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Antibiotics |
| spelling | doaj.art-5f61df9da7ac47d1a9c98ddc5fd6a8652023-11-30T23:04:35ZengMDPI AGAntibiotics2079-63822022-07-01118101810.3390/antibiotics11081018Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Antibiotic Prescribing by Dentists in Galicia, Spain: A Quasi-Experimental ApproachAlmudena Rodríguez-Fernández0Olalla Vázquez-Cancela1María Piñeiro-Lamas2Adolfo Figueiras3Maruxa Zapata-Cachafeiro4Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15786 Santiago de Compostela, SpainDepartment of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15786 Santiago de Compostela, SpainDepartment of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15786 Santiago de Compostela, SpainDepartment of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15786 Santiago de Compostela, SpainDepartment of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15786 Santiago de Compostela, SpainBackground: Antibiotic resistance is one of the most pressing public health problems. Health authorities, patients, and health professionals, including dentists, are all involved in its development. COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on dental care may have had repercussions on antibiotic prescribing by dentists. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on antibiotic prescribing by dentists, and to review antibiotic consumption according to the WHO Access, Watch, Reserve classification. We conducted a natural, before-and-after, quasi-experimental study, using antibiotic prescription data covering the period from January 2017 to May 2021. A segmented regression analysis with interrupted time series data was used to analyse the differences between the numbers of defined daily doses (DDD) of antibiotics prescribed monthly. The outcomes showed an immediate significant decrease in overall antibiotic prescribing by primary-care dentists during lockdown, followed by a non-significant upward trend for the next year. This same pattern was, likewise, observed for Access and Watch antibiotics. COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on dental care influenced the prescription of antibiotics. During confinement, an initial decrease was observed, this trend changed when in person consultations were recovered. It might be beneficial to analyse the prescription of antibiotics using the WHO AWaRe classification, in order to monitor their appropriate use.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/11/8/1018antibioticsCOVID-19dentistsprescriptionsAWaRe classificationprimary care |
| spellingShingle | Almudena Rodríguez-Fernández Olalla Vázquez-Cancela María Piñeiro-Lamas Adolfo Figueiras Maruxa Zapata-Cachafeiro Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Antibiotic Prescribing by Dentists in Galicia, Spain: A Quasi-Experimental Approach Antibiotics antibiotics COVID-19 dentists prescriptions AWaRe classification primary care |
| title | Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Antibiotic Prescribing by Dentists in Galicia, Spain: A Quasi-Experimental Approach |
| title_full | Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Antibiotic Prescribing by Dentists in Galicia, Spain: A Quasi-Experimental Approach |
| title_fullStr | Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Antibiotic Prescribing by Dentists in Galicia, Spain: A Quasi-Experimental Approach |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Antibiotic Prescribing by Dentists in Galicia, Spain: A Quasi-Experimental Approach |
| title_short | Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Antibiotic Prescribing by Dentists in Galicia, Spain: A Quasi-Experimental Approach |
| title_sort | impact of the covid 19 pandemic on antibiotic prescribing by dentists in galicia spain a quasi experimental approach |
| topic | antibiotics COVID-19 dentists prescriptions AWaRe classification primary care |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/11/8/1018 |
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