Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the delivery of primary care in the NHS. Consultations have largely moved from face-to-face to remote, forcing practitioners to modify the ways in which they deliver care to patients.
Aim: In this study, we aim to investigate the appropriateness of antibiotic prescribing in tonsillitis during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Design and setting: An observational quantitative analysis in the North Wales primary care setting.
Method: Retrospective review of computer records across 5 GP centers from March 2020 until the end of October 2020. Data was extracted and analyzed using chi-square or fisher exact rank and Mann-Whitney test.
Results: Our results have shown no significant difference in antibiotic prescribing behavior comparing face-to-face and remote consultations.
Conclusion: Remote consultation is as effective as face-to-face consultation with regards to the assessment of tonsillitis and the appropriateness of antibiotic prescription in primary care.
Keywords: COVID-19; antibiotic; primary healthcare; service evaluation; tonsillitis.