AdWatch on Augmentin raw data

AdWatch on Augmentin feedback details

Occupation	Count	Percent
not stated	6	5.6%
doctor	61	57.0%
journalist	2	1.9%
medical student	2	1.9%
member of the public	4	3.7%
other	2	1.9%
other health professional	4	3.7%
pharmacuetical industry employee	0	0%
pharmacist	23	21.5%
pharmacy student	3	2.8%
total	107	100%

Country

Country	Count	Percent
Not stated	6	5.6%
Argentina	1	0.9%
Australia	57	53.3%
Bahrain	1	0.9%
Canada	4	3.7%
India	1	0.9%
Kuwait	1	0.9%
Netherlands	1	0.9%
New Zealand	2	1.9%
South Africa	3	2.8%
Spain	2	1.9%
Sweden	1	0.9%
Trinidad and Tobago	1	0.9%
Turkey	1	0.9%
United Kingdom	15	14.0%
United States	10	9.3%
Total	107	100%

Current rating questions wording

My evaluation of AdWatch's appraisal of the Augmentin advertisement is:

No opinion
More helpful than misleading
Neutral
More misleading than helpful

My evaluation of AdWatch's current recommendations for use of Augmentin in Australia is:

No opinion
More helpful than misleading
Neutral
More misleading than helpful

My evaluation of GSK's Augmentin advertisement (regardless of your evaluation of AdWatch's appraisal) is:

No opinion
More helpful than misleading
Neutral
More misleading than helpful

Otitis media

The Cochrane systematic review of 10 trials of antibiotics for otitis media found:

The trials showed no reduction in pain at 24 hours, but a 30% relative reduction (95% confidence interval 19% to 40%) in pain at two to seven days. Since approximately 80% of patients will have settled spontaneously in this time, this means an absolute reduction of 7% or that about 15 children must be treated with antibiotics to prevent one child having some pain after two days. There was no effect of antibiotics on hearing problems of acute otitis media, as measured by subsequent tympanometry. However, audiometry was done in only two studies and incompletely reported. Nor did antibiotics influence other complications or recurrence. There were few serious complications seen in these trials: only one case of mastoiditis occurred in a penicillin treated group.<2>

2. Glasziou PP, Del Mar CB, Sanders SL, Hayem M. Antibiotics for acute otitis media in children (Cochrane Review). In: The Cochrane Library, Issue 1, 2004. Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. (abstract)

Here is what the 2004 Australian Medicines Handbook recommends for otitis media.

"Paracetamol is the drug of choice to reduce pain and fever associated with acute infection. Alternatively an NSAID, eg ibuprofen, may be used"

in most children with acute otitis media, symptoms, eg pain, last for only 24 hours and early use of antibacterials does not affect this
when antibacterials are not used most cases resolve spontaneously without complication
it causes drug-resistant bacteria in the community
a near doubling in the incidence of diarrhoea, vomiting and rash occurs in children taking antibacterials.

contralateral otitis media
pain persisting for >2 days
rare complications (eg mastoiditis).

Antibacterial treatment is indicated for Aboriginal children and immunocompromised patients with early acute otitis media.
For children >2 years who are only mildly unwell, consider symptomatic treatment for pain or fever, eg paracetamol, for the first 24–48 hours; only start antibacterials if symptoms have not improved.
Children aged 6–24 months can be managed as above, provided they can be reassessed if symptoms persist after 24 hours.
Amoxycillin is the antibacterial of choice;

First choice	Alternative	Additional information
oral amoxycillin	cefaclor or cefuroxime or amoxycillin with clavulanic acid	Immediate antibiotic treatment usually unnecessary; use antibiotics if systemic symptoms. Treat for 7–10 days. In penicillin allergy use cefaclor or cefuroxime. If unresponsive to amoxycillin, use amoxycillin with clavulanic acid.