Exploring the appropriateness of antibiotic prescribing for common respiratory tract infections in UK primary care.

Objectives: To use illness severity scores to evaluate the appropriateness of antibiotic prescribing in UK general practice.

Methods: We describe variations in practice prescribing rates, taking account of illness severity. We used three scores in three studies to measure severity: 'FeverPAIN' in an adult acute sore throat cohort (n=12 829), the '3C score' in an adult acute lower respiratory tract infection cohort (n=28 883) and the STARWAVe score in an acute cough and respiratory infection children's cohort (n=8394).

Qualitative interview study of parents' perspectives, concerns and experiences of the management of lower respiratory tract infections in children in primary care.

Objective: To explore parents' perspectives, concerns and experiences of the management of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in children in primary care.

Design: Qualitative semistructured interview study.

Setting: UK primary care.