Nudge vs Superbugs: a behavioural economics trial to reduce the overprescribing of antibiotics

BETA and the Department of Health ran a trial to test the impact of personalised letters from Australia's Chief Medical Officer to high-prescribing GPs prompting them to consider reducing antibiotic prescribing where appropriate and safe. The most effective letter, with a graph comparing GP's prescribing behaviour to their peers, reduced antibiotic prescription by 12 per cent over six months.