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Clinicians' attitude towards a placebo-controlled randomised clinical trial investigating the effect of neuraminidase inhibitors in adults hospitalised with influenza

Bradbury, Naomi; Nguyen-Van-Tam, Jonathan S.; Lim, Wei Shen

Clinicians' attitude towards a placebo-controlled randomised clinical trial investigating the effect of neuraminidase inhibitors in adults hospitalised with influenza Thumbnail


Authors

Naomi Bradbury

Wei Shen Lim



Abstract

Background: The value of neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs) in reducing severe clinical outcomes from influenza is debated. A clinical trial to generate better evidence is desirable. However, it is unknown whether UK clinicians would support a placebo controlled trial. A survey was conducted to determine the attitude of clinicians towards a clinical trial and their current practice in managing adults admitted to hospital with suspected influenza.

Methods: Senior clinicians (n=50) across the UK actively involved in the care of patients hospitalised with severe respiratory infections and/or respiratory infection research were invited to participate in an on-line survey. Participants were asked their opinion on the evidence for benefit of NAIs in influenza, their current practice in relation to: a) testing for influenza; b) treating empirically with NAIs; and c) when influenza infection is virolologically confirmed, prescribing NAIs.

Results: Thirty-five (70%) of 50 clinicians completed the survey. Respondents were drawn mainly from infectious diseases, intensive care and respiratory medicine. Only 11 (31%) of 35 respondents agreed that NAIs are effective at reducing influenza mortality;14(40%)disagreed, 10 (28.6%) neither agreed nor disagreed. When managing adults admitted to non-ICU wards with a respiratory infection during an influenza season, 15 (51.7%) clinicians indicated they would usually perform a test for influenza in greater than 60% of patients but only 9 (31%) would treat empirically with NAIs in greater than 60% of patients. Few clinicians would either test or empirically treat patients presenting with other (non-respiratory infection related) diagnoses. If influenza infection is confirmed, 17 (64.5%) clinicians would prescribe NAIs in greater than 80% of patients with a respiratory infection treated on non-ICU wards Thirty-one (89%) clinicians agreed that a placebo-controlled clinical trial should be conducted and 29 (85%) would participate in such a trial.

Conclusions: There is strong support from UK clinicians for a placebo-controlled trial of NAI treatment in adults hospitalised with suspected influenza. Current variation in medical opinion and clinical practice demonstrates collective equipoise, supporting ethical justification for a trial. Low use of NAIs in the UK suggests randomisation of treatment would not substantially divert patients towards placebo.

Citation

Bradbury, N., Nguyen-Van-Tam, J. S., & Lim, W. S. (2018). Clinicians' attitude towards a placebo-controlled randomised clinical trial investigating the effect of neuraminidase inhibitors in adults hospitalised with influenza. BMC Health Services Research, 18, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-018-3122-x

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Apr 15, 2018
Online Publication Date May 2, 2018
Publication Date May 2, 2018
Deposit Date Apr 17, 2018
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal BMC Health Services Research
Electronic ISSN 1472-6963
Publisher Springer Verlag
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 18
Article Number 311
Pages 1-9
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-018-3122-x
Keywords Influenza; Pandemic. Neuraminidase inhibitors; Oseltamivir; Zanamivir; Ethics; Survey; Clinical practice; Equipoise
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/930328
Publisher URL https://bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12913-018-3122-x

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