Matteo Ricco1, Giovanni Gualerzi2, Silvia Ranzieri3. 1. IRCCS-AUSL di Reggio Emilia; Service for Health and Safety in the Workplace, Department of Public Health, Via Amendola n.2, 42122 Reggio Emilia (RE), Italy. Electronic address: matteo.ricco@ausl.re.it. 2. Department of Medicine and Surgery; School of Medicine, University of Parma, Via Gramsci n.14, Parma (PR), Italy. 3. Department of Medicine and Surgery, School of Occupational Medicine, University of Parma, Via Gramsci n.14, Parma (PR), Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The present study aims to characterize knowledge, attitudes and practices in a sample of general practitioners (GPs) on management of travelers' diarrhea (TD). METHODS: A total of 158 GPs (44.3% males; mean age 40.2±12.4 years) completed a web questionnaire on antibiotic prophylaxis (AP) and/or an antibiotic treatment (AT) in TD cases. Participants were inquired on knowledge status (KS), risk perception and effectively applied recommendations for AP/AT through a specifically designed questionnaire. Multivariate odds ratios (OR) for predictors of AP/AT were calculated through regression analysis. RESULTS: All in all, while 15 (9.5%) participants recommended AP for TD, 61 of them (39.4%) recommended AT. KS was largely unsatisfying as participants extensively ignored the most recent AP/AT recommendations. Acknowledgment of TD as a severe disorder was predictive for recommendation of AP (OR 37.843, 95%CI 4.752-301.4). As for AT, it was relatively elevated in GPs≥10 years (OR 2.653, 95%CI 1.169-6.019), but more rarely reported in participants with higher KS (OR 0.056, 95%CI 0.021-0.153). CONCLUSIONS: Adherence of GPs to official recommendations for TD management was unsatisfying, particularly in older participants. Continuous Education of GPs should be improved by sharing up-to-date official recommendations on AT/AP for TD.
BACKGROUND: The present study aims to characterize knowledge, attitudes and practices in a sample of general practitioners (GPs) on management of travelers' diarrhea (TD). METHODS: A total of 158 GPs (44.3% males; mean age 40.2±12.4 years) completed a web questionnaire on antibiotic prophylaxis (AP) and/or an antibiotic treatment (AT) in TD cases. Participants were inquired on knowledge status (KS), risk perception and effectively applied recommendations for AP/AT through a specifically designed questionnaire. Multivariate odds ratios (OR) for predictors of AP/AT were calculated through regression analysis. RESULTS: All in all, while 15 (9.5%) participants recommended AP for TD, 61 of them (39.4%) recommended AT. KS was largely unsatisfying as participants extensively ignored the most recent AP/AT recommendations. Acknowledgment of TD as a severe disorder was predictive for recommendation of AP (OR 37.843, 95%CI 4.752-301.4). As for AT, it was relatively elevated in GPs≥10 years (OR 2.653, 95%CI 1.169-6.019), but more rarely reported in participants with higher KS (OR 0.056, 95%CI 0.021-0.153). CONCLUSIONS: Adherence of GPs to official recommendations for TD management was unsatisfying, particularly in older participants. Continuous Education of GPs should be improved by sharing up-to-date official recommendations on AT/AP for TD.
Keywords:
Health knowledge, attitudes and practice; Physicians; Primary Care; Referral and consultation; Surveys and questionnaires; Travel medicine; Tropical medicine