Does sending a group of patients an advice leaflet advising them on the benefits of taking probiotics reduce the number of respiratory infections they get over the winter?

Reducing respiratory infections in asthmatics: a randomised controlled trial of two different advice leaflets

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN61742917

Enrollment

1340

Registered

2013-10-21

Start date

2013-10-01

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2017-02-27

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Asthma Respiratory Asthma

Interventions

Both groups receive an advice leaflet aimed at reducing the rate of respiratory infections for the 6-month period of October to March. This will be sent out to participants at the time of their letter

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. Patients registered at Ashfields Primary Care Centre (UK) 2. Aged 5 years or more

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: Only one participant per household is eligible who will be selected at random with the others excluded

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Percentage of group prescribed at least one of the following antibiotics in primary care during the 6-month period for which probiotic consumption is recommended: Amoxicillin, Azithromycin, Cefaclor, Cefalexin, Ciprofloxacin, Clarithromycin, Co-amoxiclav, Doxycycline, Erythromycin, Phenoxymethylpenicillin	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Current secondary outcome measures as of 09/05/2014: 1. Total number of antibiotic prescriptions for the above antibiotics in each group provided by the GP surgery. This is another way of measuring effects on antibiotic prescribing 2. Total number of the above listed antibiotic prescriptions issued by the GP surgery for per group during the 6 month study period 3. Total cost of the above listed antibiotic prescriptions during the 6 month study period per group. This will be based on the NHS drug tariff for England and Wales at the time the prescription was issued 4. Percentage of group prescribed at least one course of any type of oral antibiotics by the GP surgery 5. Total number of any type of oral antibiotic prescriptions issued by the GP surgery per group during the 6 months 6. Total cost of any type of oral antibiotic prescriptions per group. This will be based on the NHS drug tariff for England and Wales at the time the prescription was issued 7. Total number of URTI episodes for which antibiotics were issued 8. Percentage of group having at least 1 URTI episode for which antibiotics were prescribed 9. Total number of all respiratory episodes for which antibiotics were issued 10. Percentage of group having at least 1 respiratory episode for which antibiotics were prescribed 11. Percentage of patients consulting at least once for an URTI during this 6 month period 12. Total number of URTI episodes per group during the 6 month period for which Lab4 is to be recommended 13. Percentage of patients consulting at least once for an LRTI during this 6 month period 14. Total number of LRTI episodes per group during the 6 month period for which Lab4 is to be recommended 15. Percentage of patients consulting at least once for an acute exacerbation of asthma during the 6 months 16. Total number of acute asthma exacerbation episodes per group during the 6 months 17. Percentage of patients consulting at least once with acute respiratory symptoms during this time. This mi	—

Measure

Time frame

Current secondary outcome measures as of 09/05/2014: 1. Total number of antibiotic prescriptions for the above antibiotics in each group provided by the GP surgery. This is another way of measuring effects on antibiotic prescribing 2. Total number of the above listed antibiotic prescriptions issued by the GP surgery for per group during the 6 month study period 3. Total cost of the above listed antibiotic prescriptions during the 6 month study period per group. This will be based on the NHS drug tariff for England and Wales at the time the prescription was issued 4. Percentage of group prescribed at least one course of any type of oral antibiotics by the GP surgery 5. Total number of any type of oral antibiotic prescriptions issued by the GP surgery per group during the 6 months 6. Total cost of any type of oral antibiotic prescriptions per group. This will be based on the NHS drug tariff for England and Wales at the time the prescription was issued 7. Total number of URTI episodes for which antibiotics were issued 8. Percentage of group having at least 1 URTI episode for which antibiotics were prescribed 9. Total number of all respiratory episodes for which antibiotics were issued 10. Percentage of group having at least 1 respiratory episode for which antibiotics were prescribed 11. Percentage of patients consulting at least once for an URTI during this 6 month period 12. Total number of URTI episodes per group during the 6 month period for which Lab4 is to be recommended 13. Percentage of patients consulting at least once for an LRTI during this 6 month period 14. Total number of LRTI episodes per group during the 6 month period for which Lab4 is to be recommended 15. Percentage of patients consulting at least once for an acute exacerbation of asthma during the 6 months 16. Total number of acute asthma exacerbation episodes per group during the 6 months 17. Percentage of patients consulting at least once with acute respiratory symptoms during this time. This mi

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Countries

United Kingdom

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026