Survey have been used to calibrate the final sample using a method known as the CALMAR process. Within this process, differences amongst participants and nonparticipants have been compensated by attributing a specific weight to each patient in the evaluation, inversely proportional towards the participation price of equivalent patients at baseline 1407003 amongst all patients surveyed. Differences at baseline involving GP-CM, GP-Mx and GP-Ho groups were estimated utilizing multivariate logistic regression analyses. A propensity score was computed for each and every participant inside the study indicating their probability of belonging to either GP-Mx or GP-Ho groups compared to the GP-CM group as outlined by all variables listed in Total N = 518 Female gender Age 019 2049 50+ Higher Epigenetic Reader Domain school degree completed Physique Mass Index ,25 25+ Smoking Non smoker Former smoker Present smoker or recent smoker Physical activity $30 minutes every day 47.3 23.0 29.7 28.1 60.six 39.four 41.9 33.6 24.five 57.1 59.8 GP-CM N = 165 58.2 GP-Mx N = 203 58.6 GP-Ho N = 150 63.3 Nonparticipating sufferers N = 884 54.2 38.two 41.2 20.6 55.7 43.three 29.1 27.six 50.8 44.0 31.three 24.7 65.7 40.5 39.7 19.eight 53.4 65.0 35.0 51.three 48.7 68.three 31.7 61.9 38.1 36.four 27.9 35.7 33.5 50.two 20.7 29.1 25.7 55.three 20.7 24.0 25.five 39.six 21.4 39.0 29.7 1 Sort of healthcare practice in accordance with physicians’ prescribing preferences: GP-CM, standard Epigenetic Reader Domain medicine; GP-Mx, mixed practice; GPHo, registered homeopathic physicians. Variations compared to participants statistically significant. Variations compared to the GP-CM group statistically significant. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0089990.t002 3 EPI3 Study on Homeopathy and Antibiotics for URTI Total N = 518 URTI symptoms at inclusion Fever $38.5uC Rhinorrhea Nasal obstruction Cough Shortness of breath Dysphagia Stomatitis Diagnoses/syndrome at inclusion Rhinopharyngitis Bronchitis Bronchiolitis Flu-like symptoms Viral angina Comorbidities Gastroenteritis URTI in prior 12 months Hospitalization in prior 12 months Prescriptions on day of inclusion Antibiotic Antipyretic/anti-inflammatory drugs Homeopathic drug for URTI 1 GP-CM N = 165 GP-Mx N = 203 GP-Ho N = 150 51.0 72.four 57.3 71.two 30.1 21.eight 4.1 53.3 75.two 63.0 76.4 27.9 22.4 three.six 59.1 71.4 56.2 72.four 36.five 23.six five.9 37.three 70.7 52.7 64.0 24.0 18.7 2.0 73.9 28.0 five.2 12.7 eight.7 75.2 29.1 six.1 10.9 9.1 70.9 31.5 5.four 14.8 9.9 76.7 22.0 four.0 12.0 6.7 three.five 67.two 14.1 0.six 64.2 16.0 five.9 68.five 14.four three.3 68.7 11.5 32.six 40.five 21.six 39.four 52.1 0.6 41.4 45.eight 9.four 13.3 20.7 61.3 Sort of healthcare practice based on physicians’ prescribing preferences: GP-CM, standard medicine; GP-Mx, mixed prescribing practice; GP-Ho, registered homeopathic physicians. Distinction statistically important. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0089990.t003 intended to adjust for confounding by differences amongst the groups in all subsequent analyses. The three groups had been compared for the four binary outcomes applying the GP-CM group as the reference group applying logistic regression analyses adjusted for baseline qualities as well as the quantity of URTI symptoms at baseline. Clustering effects resulting from recruiting various individuals consulting the identical GP and autocorrelation amongst responses for the 4 consecutive interviews had been controlled utilizing Generalized Estimating Equations in the multivariate models. Sample size was estimated for the EPI3 survey as a complete so as to supply accurate estimates of prevalence for every single group of diagnoses seen in principal care, including URTI. All analyses had been performed working with SAS version 9.1. Re.Survey were utilized to calibrate the final sample making use of a system referred to as the CALMAR procedure. In this process, differences among participants and nonparticipants had been compensated by attributing a particular weight to every single patient inside the evaluation, inversely proportional for the participation price of equivalent individuals at baseline 1407003 amongst all patients surveyed. Variations at baseline among GP-CM, GP-Mx and GP-Ho groups have been estimated applying multivariate logistic regression analyses. A propensity score was computed for every single participant inside the study indicating their probability of belonging to either GP-Mx or GP-Ho groups in comparison to the GP-CM group as outlined by all variables listed in Total N = 518 Female gender Age 019 2049 50+ High school degree completed Body Mass Index ,25 25+ Smoking Non smoker Former smoker Existing smoker or recent smoker Physical activity $30 minutes per day 47.three 23.0 29.7 28.1 60.6 39.4 41.9 33.six 24.five 57.1 59.eight GP-CM N = 165 58.2 GP-Mx N = 203 58.six GP-Ho N = 150 63.3 Nonparticipating individuals N = 884 54.two 38.two 41.two 20.six 55.7 43.three 29.1 27.6 50.eight 44.0 31.three 24.7 65.7 40.five 39.7 19.8 53.4 65.0 35.0 51.three 48.7 68.three 31.7 61.9 38.1 36.4 27.9 35.7 33.five 50.2 20.7 29.1 25.7 55.three 20.7 24.0 25.five 39.6 21.4 39.0 29.7 1 Sort of health-related practice as outlined by physicians’ prescribing preferences: GP-CM, traditional medicine; GP-Mx, mixed practice; GPHo, registered homeopathic physicians. Differences in comparison with participants statistically important. Differences in comparison with the GP-CM group statistically considerable. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0089990.t002 3 EPI3 Study on Homeopathy and Antibiotics for URTI Total N = 518 URTI symptoms at inclusion Fever $38.5uC Rhinorrhea Nasal obstruction Cough Shortness of breath Dysphagia Stomatitis Diagnoses/syndrome at inclusion Rhinopharyngitis Bronchitis Bronchiolitis Flu-like symptoms Viral angina Comorbidities Gastroenteritis URTI in previous 12 months Hospitalization in previous 12 months Prescriptions on day of inclusion Antibiotic Antipyretic/anti-inflammatory drugs Homeopathic drug for URTI 1 GP-CM N = 165 GP-Mx N = 203 GP-Ho N = 150 51.0 72.4 57.3 71.2 30.1 21.eight 4.1 53.three 75.two 63.0 76.four 27.9 22.4 3.6 59.1 71.4 56.two 72.four 36.five 23.6 5.9 37.3 70.7 52.7 64.0 24.0 18.7 two.0 73.9 28.0 5.2 12.7 8.7 75.two 29.1 6.1 10.9 9.1 70.9 31.5 five.4 14.eight 9.9 76.7 22.0 four.0 12.0 6.7 three.5 67.two 14.1 0.6 64.two 16.0 5.9 68.5 14.4 3.3 68.7 11.five 32.6 40.five 21.six 39.four 52.1 0.six 41.4 45.8 9.four 13.three 20.7 61.three Type of medical practice in line with physicians’ prescribing preferences: GP-CM, traditional medicine; GP-Mx, mixed prescribing practice; GP-Ho, registered homeopathic physicians. Difference statistically considerable. doi:ten.1371/journal.pone.0089990.t003 intended to adjust for confounding by variations amongst the groups in all subsequent analyses. The three groups had been compared for the 4 binary outcomes employing the GP-CM group because the reference group using logistic regression analyses adjusted for baseline characteristics and also the variety of URTI symptoms at baseline. Clustering effects resulting from recruiting several patients consulting the identical GP and autocorrelation among responses towards the four consecutive interviews have been controlled utilizing Generalized Estimating Equations in the multivariate models. Sample size was estimated for the EPI3 survey as a complete so as to provide correct estimates of prevalence for every single group of diagnoses noticed in major care, which includes URTI. All analyses have been performed making use of SAS version 9.1. Re.