OBJECTIVE: To collect population-based information on treatment of infections with antibiotics in PHC. DESIGN: A questionnaire study for general practitioners (GPs). SETTING: All health centres of Pirkanmaa Hospital District in Finland. PATIENTS: Patients with any infection attending health centre during 1 week in November 1994. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: An infection diagnosis by the GP. RESULTS: A total of 4150 questionnaires were received from 223 doctors. Respiratory tract infections comprised 80% of all infections. Of all patients 64% received antimicrobial treatment. Unspecified upper respiratory tract infections and pharyngitis were rarely treated with antimicrobials (10 and 21%, respectively), whereas patients with acute bronchitis received antibiotics as often (83%) as patients with otitis media (93%) or tonsillitis (86%). The most commonly prescribed substances were cephalosporins (19% of all antimicrobials), penicillin V (17%), and amoxycillin (17%). Half of the cephalosporin use could be regarded as overuse. Half of the sulphatrimethoprims were used for otitis media. A quarter of the patients expressed a desire to receive antibiotic treatment. CONCLUSION: The method was practical, inexpensive, and successful in giving such information, which is needed for supervising the rational use of antibiotics in primary health care.
OBJECTIVE: To collect population-based information on treatment of infections with antibiotics in PHC. DESIGN: A questionnaire study for general practitioners (GPs). SETTING: All health centres of Pirkanmaa Hospital District in Finland. PATIENTS: Patients with any infection attending health centre during 1 week in November 1994. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: An infection diagnosis by the GP. RESULTS: A total of 4150 questionnaires were received from 223 doctors. Respiratory tract infections comprised 80% of all infections. Of all patients 64% received antimicrobial treatment. Unspecified upper respiratory tract infections and pharyngitis were rarely treated with antimicrobials (10 and 21%, respectively), whereas patients with acute bronchitis received antibiotics as often (83%) as patients with otitis media (93%) or tonsillitis (86%). The most commonly prescribed substances were cephalosporins (19% of all antimicrobials), penicillin V (17%), and amoxycillin (17%). Half of the cephalosporin use could be regarded as overuse. Half of the sulphatrimethoprims were used for otitis media. A quarter of the patients expressed a desire to receive antibiotic treatment. CONCLUSION: The method was practical, inexpensive, and successful in giving such information, which is needed for supervising the rational use of antibiotics in primary health care.
Authors: E Sanz; M A Hernández; S Ratchina; L Stratchounsky; M A Peiré; M Lapeyre-Mestre; B Horen; M Kriska; H Krajnakova; H Momcheva; D Encheva; I Martínez-Mir; V Palop Journal: Eur J Clin Pharmacol Date: 2004-03-12 Impact factor: 2.953
Authors: Daniel Drozdov; Anja Thomer; Marc Meili; Stefanie Schwarz; Rita Bossart Kouegbe; Katharina Regez; Merih Guglielmetti; Ursula Schild; Antoinette Conca; Petra Schäfer; Barbara Reutlinger; Cornelia Ottiger; Florian Buchkremer; Alexander Litke; Philipp Schuetz; Andreas Huber; Ulrich Bürgi; Christoph A Fux; Andreas Bock; Beat Müller; Werner C Albrich Journal: Trials Date: 2013-03-22 Impact factor: 2.279