Primary care physicians' knowledge and attitude towards prescribing medication for acute respiratory infection

This study was performed to assess primary care physicians' knowledge and attitude towards prescribing medications for acute respiratory infections [ARIs]. Aseer Region Primary Care Physicians. Cross sectional study. A cross sectional study using a self-administered, questionnaire carried out during March and April 2004, among all primary care physicians. Out of 320, 268 questionnaires were returned [response rate = 83.75%]. The mean rank of score in knowledge on ARIs was 16 [SD = 2.0] out of 21. More than 80% of respondents have heard about the National Protocol for ARIs [NP-ARIS]. One-third has attended a training course on the protocol, while a third did not want to attend such type of training. Of the 153 physicians who had copies of the protocol, 145 read it. However, only 85 physicians of those who read it comply with it. Physicians with experience more than 5 years in primary health care centres attended more training courses on the NP-ARIs [44% vs 20%, p = 0.01], had a positive attitude towards it [70% vs 60%, p = 0.04]. Those who were trained on the protocol, prescribed anti histamines and vitamin c less frequently [38% vs 60%, p = 0.04] and [38% vs 61%, p = 0.04] respectively. Over-prescribing for acute respiratory infections is a common behaviour among primary care physicians, despite their good knowledge of the health problem

Prescribing patterns for acute respiratory infections in primary health care, Aseer region, Saudi Arabia

The objective of this study was to identify the patterns of prescribing for Acute respiratory infections in patients attending primary health care centers in the Aseer region, southwestern Saudi Arabia . This study was conducted at primary health care centers in the Aseer region during November 2003. A master sheet designed by the investigator was distributed to all the working physicians in the primary health care center in the Aseer region. The master sheet included the age, sex, complaints, signs, clinical diagnosis and the type of medications prescribed. Physicians were asked to include all patients attending on 17[th]P November 2003, and send the master sheet to the Technical Supervision Unit at Primary Care Department, General Directorate of Health Affairs. Data of the master sheet was entered and analyzed by using SPSS. The total number of patients attending with acute respiratory infections [ARIs] was 3000 which represented 25% of the patients attending primary health care centers that day. Children formed 60% of the total number of cases. Regarding symptoms and signs, it was found that 70% had a cough, 59% had a runny nose, and 43% had a sore throat. The common cold was the most common diagnosis [42%]. Antipyretics, antihistamines, antibiotics and antitussives were prescribed for 78%, 48%, 45% and 25% respectively. Statistical analysis using logistic regression revealed that the higher the temperature, the more severe the throat congestion and the presence of exudates on pharynx, the higher the likelihood to prescribe antibiotics. In this study, it was found that the prescription of all drugs for ARIs was still high in spite of the fact that these conditions are self-limiting. To rationalize prescribing for ARI, implementation of the national protocol for diagnosis and treatment of ARIs is mandatory. Further studies to explore the physician's knowledge, attitudes and behavior concerning prescribing for ARI is strongly recommended