Indicators | Expert support group# | Control group¶ | OR+ (95% CI) |
| Before | After | Before | After | |
Additional diagnostic tests | 70.2 | 5.2 | 75.3 | 3.0 | 2.5 (1.17–5.35)* |
Radiographic imaging | 48.7 | 0.9 | 51.3 | 0.8 | 1.27 (0.25–6.41) |
Blood tests | 29.2 | 0.9 | 39.1 | 1.3 | 1.0 (0.65–1.55) |
Lung function | 13.2 | 2.3 | 15.2 | 0.3 | 1.0 (0.59–1.70) |
Prednisone course | 11.2 | 2.6 | 8.9 | 1.0 | 1.0 (0.61–1.63) |
Electrocardiography | 3.6 | 0.3 | 6.0 | 0.2 | 1.0 (0.55–1.80) |
Other§ | 1.1 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 | NA |
Width of differential diagnoses | 2.2±1.0 | 1.7±0.9 | 2.3±1.0 | 1.7±1.0 | 1.0 (0.81–1.19) |
Certainty of diagnosis | 6.8±2.0 | 7.1±1.9 | 7.3±1.9 | 7.3±1.8 | 1.0 (0.57–1.43) |
Perception of severity of diagnosis | 6.0±2.2 | 5.9±2.3 | 6.3±2.1 | 6.3±2.1 | 1.0 (0.57–1.42) |
Referral rate | 18.6 | 1.7 | 17.8 | 2.5 | 1.0 (0.60–1.66) |
Medication and nonmedication changesƒ % yes | | 76.2 | | 69.1 | 1.44 (0.80–2.59) |
Stop or lower medication | | | | | |
Inhaled corticosteroids | NA | 10.2 | NA | 6.3 | 1.67 (0.85–3.28) |
Bronchodilators | NA | 0.9 | NA | 0.8 | 1.17 (0.16–8.40) |
Start medication | | | | | |
Short-acting bronchodilators | NA | 26.9 | NA | 22.2 | 1.27 (0.73–2.20) |
Long-acting bronchodilators | NA | 15.3 | NA | 15.5 | 1.01 (0.46–2.18) |
Inhaled corticosteroids | NA | 31.0 | NA | 31.0 | 1.00 (0.68–1.49) |
Oral corticosteroids | NA | 6.5 | NA | 5.6 | 1.34 (0.44–4.10) |
Combinational drug | NA | 3.7 | NA | 2.8 | 1.27 (0.26–6.19) |
Nonmedication changes | | | | | |
Smoking cessation advice | NA | 30.1 | NA | 33.7 | 0.85 (0.57–1.26) |