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  • Title: Prescription of medications by primary care physicians in the light of asthma guidelines.
    Author: Gourgoulianis KI, Hamos B, Christou K, Rizopoulou D, Efthimiou A.
    Journal: Respiration; 1998; 65(1):18-20. PubMed ID: 9523363.
    Abstract:
    The purpose of this study was the evaluation of the extent of dissemination of asthma guidelines among primary health care physicians in Greece. Sixty-five of 80 primary care physicians (response rate 80.2%) answered a questionnaire about asthma morbidity, manner of choice of treatment and asthma management plans. One out of 12 patients who were examined by a primary care physician suffered from bronchial asthma. Forty-two physicians treated their asthma patients according to the pulmonologist's recommendations, and only 15 prescribed asthma treatment according to asthma guidelines. beta 2-agonist inhalers and theophylline tablets represent 41% of all prescribed medicines in asthma and corticosteroid inhalers 24% of medications. Eight physicians prescribed theophylline as the first and 20 physicians corticosteroid inhalers as the third choice of medication in asthma treatment. Consequently, the prescription of beta 2-agonist inhalers and theophylline tablets seems to be higher than asthma guidelines recommend. Better dissemination of guidelines among specialists and primary health care physicians will hopefully make asthma management optimal.
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