Patients' and doctors' views on respiratory tract symptoms.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the views of patients and doctors on respiratory tract symptoms.


METHODS
Transversal survey among patients and general practitioners.


METHODS
Primary health care and community.


METHODS
51 patients attending a general practitioner, 38 patients in the community, 7 general practitioners.


METHODS
Patients' and doctors' views on respiratory tract symptoms and differences between them: agreement with statements rated on a 5-point scale, ranging from "strongly disagree" to "strongly agree."


RESULTS
Patients less than doctors endorsed the self-limiting character of cough, sore throat and earache (mean 3.1, 3.4 and 2.9 versus 4.1, 4.1 and 3.7) and patients--much more than doctors--rated antibiotics as being necessary for cough and sore throat (mean 2.7 and 2.9 versus 1.7 and 17) and believed that antibiotics speed recovery (mean 3.7 versus 2.0). However, there was little difference relating to the necessity to see a doctor after some time period.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients appeared to differ from doctors in views on respiratory tract symptoms. The results stress the importance of exploring patients' views when being confronted by patients suffering from respiratory tract symptoms.
van Duijn
Huug
H
Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands. hjvduijn@knmg.nl
Kuyvenhoven
Marijke
M
Welschen
Ineke
I
den Ouden
Henk
H
Slootweg
Andries
A
Verheij
Theo
T
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003371:Cough / Q000188:drug therapy; D004363:Drug Utilization; D006801:Humans; D009426:Netherlands; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000188:drug therapy; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents