Australian doctors' beliefs and practice regarding Helicobacter pylori.
OBJECTIVE
To determine beliefs and behaviours of Australian doctors regarding Helicobacter pylori.


METHODS
Anonymous reply-paid postal survey mailed in December 1995 and again in March 1996.


METHODS
All members on the mailing lists of the Gastroenterological Society of Australia Endoscopy Section (n = 397) and the Australian Society of Infectious Diseases (n = 264; those without medical qualifications were asked not to reply), and 400 general practitioners (GPs) randomly selected from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.


METHODS
Differences between specialist groups in belief in a causative association between H. pylori and peptic disease and in use of eradication therapy and pre- and post-treatment testing for H. pylori.


RESULTS
92.6% of doctors believed H. pylori causes duodenal ulcer, with GPs significantly less likely to believe than gastroenterologists (odds ratio [OR], 0.22; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.00-0.81). In duodenal ulcer, 93.4% of doctors believed H. pylori eradication therapy should be given, but fewer (83.4%) claimed to give it "always or mostly", with GPs less likely to report giving it than gastroenterologists (OR, 0.06; 95% CI, 0.02-0.19). For non-ulcer dyspepsia, gastrointestinal surgeons were more likely than gastroenterologists to believe in a causative link with H. pylori (OR, 5.6; 95% CI, 3.0-10.7) and in a need for eradication therapy (OR, 3.6; 95% CI, 1.7-7.7). Most doctors (79.3%) believed in confirming the presence of H. pylori before eradication therapy in duodenal ulcer. Only 51.6% believed post-eradication testing necessary (45.5%), yet 79.1% reported performing it.


CONCLUSIONS
Significant differences exist between specialist groups in beliefs and self-reported behaviours regarding H. pylori.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D004381:Duodenal Ulcer / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000628:therapy*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008511:Medicine; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D013038:Specialization; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires