Seasonal Variation in Community Systemic Antibiotic Dispensing, Percent
Identifying Attributes
Care Settings
Primary Care
Country
New Zealand
Publishing Organisation
Health Quality & Safety Commission
Type of Quality Indicator
Process
IOM Quality Dimension
Safety
Domain
Medications and Medication Management
Defining Attributes
Definition
Seasonal variation in community systemic antibiotic dispensing.
Numerator
Community antibiotic dispensing per day in the winter months (Apr–Sept).
Denominator
Community antibiotic dispensing per day in the summer months (Oct–Mar).
Exclusions
Flucloxacillin and fusidic acid were excluded from analysis, as their use increases in summer, to focus on the use of antibiotics particularly for winter viral respiratory infections (colds and flus).
Use of Risk Adjustment
No
Risk Adjustments
None
Stratifications
By year: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018; Ethnicity: Māori, Pacific peoples, Asian, European/Other; Age group (years): 0–4, 5-9. 10-14, 15-24, 25-44, 45-64, 65–74, 75-84, 85+, Sex: F, M
Collection and Reporting Attributes
Type of Data Collection
Standardised clinical data
Data Collection Methods
Pharmaceutical Collection, Statistics New Zealand resident, PHO enrolments.
Frequency of Data Collection
Frequency of Data Collection in Days
Reporting Methods
Atlas of Healthcare Variation website
Reporting Frequency
Annually
Reporting Frequency in Days
365
Indicator Has Recommended Targets
No
Source and Reference Attributes
Technical Specifications
Link to Measurement Tools
Quality Indicator Confirmed to be Part of a Program Used to Monitor Quality and Safety of Care Among Older People at a Population-Level between 2012-2022
Yes
Assessed by the Australian Consortium for Aged Care Collaborators as Generally Containing Good Properties (Importance and Scientific Acceptability)
No
Australian Consortium for Aged Care Endorsed
No
Identified by PHARMA-Care Project
No
Upload Date
02 December 2025
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Date Modified 02 December 2025