Magdalena: I still prefer the "Polish way."
Background. Concern about the increasing numbers of multiple resistant strains resulting from over and misuse of antibiotics is growing world-wide.
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Conclusions. In conclusion, the results of this small pilot study indicate that Polish first-contact doctors have an inadequate prescription behaviour in cases with upper respiratory tract infections. Our results underline the need for courses in pharmacotherapy within the postgraduate education course in family medicine recently introduced in Poland. By the way the date of that paper is 1996. So it's not a sudden new thing that happened since you came over to the UK.
I appreciate that docs want to help patients. It's kind of the reason for their existence innit? ;)
Did you notice the authors' names for authors #1 & #2? A Windak, T Tomasik, HM Jacobs* and RA de Melker*
Sounds like Pole, Pole, Brit, Dutch.
This is in line with the European study of management in acute tonsillitis, in which Poland showed the longest duration of the illness: mean duration 8.23 versus 4.79 days in The Netherlands and 2.56 days in Turkey.
This illustrates the importance of transcultural differences and underlines the fact that physicians can promote the medicalization of 'normal' common diseases such as upper respiratory tract infections by doing too much (tests, referrals, prescriptions) and explaining too little.
Ordering relatively high numbers of tests, making unnecessary referrals and advising bed-rest can lead to the somarization of relatively minor ailments. Moreover, such management is inefficient and costly.
They did say relatively minor, not just minor. Apparently 30% of cases are appropriate for antibiotics. I have had some pretty bad sore throats in my life, but don't remember a pus dripping experience. However I believe those are the ones for which antibiotics ARE indicated.
Like Seanus said. Potrzebna kopa w dupę i już. :)
The problem with giving unnecessary antibiotics is that they will breed resistant strains of bacteria.
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