Jennifer Tran1, Margie Danchin2, Andrew C Steer3, Marie Pirotta4. 1. MBBS, LLB, BCom, Honorary Research Officer, Group A Streptococcal Research Group, Murdoch Children@s Research Institute; Resident Medical Officer, Royal Children@s Hospital Melbourne, Vic. 2. MBBS, FRACP, PhD, Senior Research Fellow, Vaccine and Immunisation Research Group, Murdoch Children@s Research Institute; Paediatrician, Department of General Medicine, Royal Children@s Hospital Melbourne; Senior Lecturer, Department of Paediatrics and School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Vic. 3. MBBS, BMedSci, MPH, FRACP, PhD, Group Leader, Group A Streptococcal Research Group, Murdoch Children@s Research Institute; Paediatric Infectious Diseases Physician, Royal Children@s Hospital Melbourne; Principal Research Fellow, Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Vic. andrew.steer@rch.org.au. 4. MBBS, FRACGP, PhD, Honorary Senior Research Fellow, Department of General Practice, University of Melbourne, Vic.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the knowledge, attitudes and practices of general practitioners (GPs) in Victoria, Australia in the management of sore throat. METHOD: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 100 GPs using a questionnaire with the same four case vignettes used in a 1994 Victorian study. RESULTS: Eighty-nine per cent of respondents indicated they would prescribe antibiotics to a child with a short history of sore throat and fever, with examination findings of fever, tonsillar pus and tender cervical lymph nodes. Only 18% of respondents indicated they would order a throat swab with culture to investigate the aetiology. Very few respondents indicated they would prescribe antibiotics to patients presenting with sore throat with clinical features consistent with a viral infection. DISCUSSION: This study suggests that there is a role for better communication of the gradual but practical changes of Australian sore throat management guidelines to GPs, which may reduce antibiotic prescribing.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the knowledge, attitudes and practices of general practitioners (GPs) in Victoria, Australia in the management of sore throat. METHOD: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 100 GPs using a questionnaire with the same four case vignettes used in a 1994 Victorian study. RESULTS: Eighty-nine per cent of respondents indicated they would prescribe antibiotics to a child with a short history of sore throat and fever, with examination findings of fever, tonsillar pus and tender cervical lymph nodes. Only 18% of respondents indicated they would order a throat swab with culture to investigate the aetiology. Very few respondents indicated they would prescribe antibiotics to patients presenting with sore throat with clinical features consistent with a viral infection. DISCUSSION: This study suggests that there is a role for better communication of the gradual but practical changes of Australian sore throat management guidelines to GPs, which may reduce antibiotic prescribing.
Authors: Ronny Gunnarsson; Mark H Ebell; Hannelore Wächtler; Naveen Manchal; Lynne Reid; Stefan Malmberg; Sean Hawkey; Alastair D Hay; Katarina Hedin; Pär-Daniel Sundvall Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2020-09-17 Impact factor: 2.692