Intervention overuse in paediatric care in Australian metropolitan general practice

One in 10 general practitioner consultations for children involve low-value primary care, reports new research in RACGP's Australian Journal of General Practice. This includes unnecessary antibiotics for upper respiratory tract infections and imaging.

The ‘First do no harm’ RACGP initiative and the RACP Evolve initiative provide guidance for physicians on the avoidance of intervention overuse paediatric or low-value care.

“Bronchiolitis is a clinical diagnosis. Chest X-rays add little to diagnosis or management. Bronchodilators, like salbutamol and steroids, show no benefit and may cause harm” says Dr Nitin Kapur, Outgoing President of RACP's Paediatrics & Child Health Division (PCHD).

This supports the RACP PCHD Evolve recommendation: avoid routine chest X-rays or medications for bronchiolitis.

Research article  l  RACP Evolve