BACKGROUND: Our aim was to assess international differences in illness behaviour and clinical outcome for patients in Europe with an episode of acute tonsillitis. METHODS: The subjects were 2423 patients from seven countries whose acute tonsillitis was treated with antibiotics. Each country selected at least 10 GPs who filled in a questionnaire for each episode of acute tonsillitis treated during a 3-month period, November 1989-May 1990. The outcome measure was the number of days of illness. Backwards multiple regression analysis with predictors (age, sex, country, initial temperature, days prior to illness) was performed. RESULTS: The number of days of illness of patients with an episode of acute tonsillitis varied between the European countries, from 3 to 10 days. Country was the most important predictor, whereas disease-specific and patients' characteristics were not important predictors. CONCLUSIONS: Duration of illness was primarily influenced by country. The countries in Eastern Europe especially were characterized by a longer duration of illness. Transcultural differences may influence the duration of illness and need more attention in daily practice.
BACKGROUND: Our aim was to assess international differences in illness behaviour and clinical outcome for patients in Europe with an episode of acute tonsillitis. METHODS: The subjects were 2423 patients from seven countries whose acute tonsillitis was treated with antibiotics. Each country selected at least 10 GPs who filled in a questionnaire for each episode of acute tonsillitis treated during a 3-month period, November 1989-May 1990. The outcome measure was the number of days of illness. Backwards multiple regression analysis with predictors (age, sex, country, initial temperature, days prior to illness) was performed. RESULTS: The number of days of illness of patients with an episode of acute tonsillitis varied between the European countries, from 3 to 10 days. Country was the most important predictor, whereas disease-specific and patients' characteristics were not important predictors. CONCLUSIONS: Duration of illness was primarily influenced by country. The countries in Eastern Europe especially were characterized by a longer duration of illness. Transcultural differences may influence the duration of illness and need more attention in daily practice.
Authors: Patricia M Hordijk; Berna D L Broekhuizen; Chris C Butler; Samuel Coenen; Maciek Godycki-Cwirko; Herman Goossens; Kerry Hood; Richard Smith; Saskia F van Vugt; Paul Little; Theo J M Verheij Journal: Fam Pract Date: 2014-11-18 Impact factor: 2.267