Association between guidelines and medical practitioners' perception of best management for patients attending with an apparently uncomplicated acute sore throat: a cross-sectional survey in five countries.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To investigate the relationship between guidelines and the medical practitioners' perception of optimal care for patients attending with an apparently uncomplicated acute sore throat in five countries (Australia, Germany, Sweden, UK and USA).

Design

International cross-sectional survey.

Setting

Primary healthcare (PHC).

Participants

Medical practitioners working in PHC.

Main outcome measures

ORs for: (A) perception of throat swabs as important, (B) perception of blood tests (C reactive protein, B-ESR and B-leucocytes) as important and (C) antibiotic prescriptions if no pathogenic bacteria isolated on throat swab.

Results

Guidelines differed significantly; those recommending throat swabs (Sweden and USA) were associated with practitioners

SUBMITTER: Gunnarsson R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7500311 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature