title: [Medical practices and expectations of general practitioners in relation to hepatitis C virus infection in the Auvergne region].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the medical practices and expectations of general practitioners concerning screening and management of hepatitis C in the Auvergne region.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey was sent by mail to 250 general practitioners. They were then contacted by telephone interviews.
  
  
  RESULTS
  94% of general practitioners answered the survey. Each physician diagnosed an average of 0.6 new cases of hepatitis C in 1999, and had a mean of 3.2 patients with HCV in their practice. Screening was performed by 91% of general practitioners if there was a history of blood transfusion, by 87% if there was a history of intravenous drug use, by 92% in case of increased serum amino transferase levels. Screening was less frequent in case of household contact and was only performed by 68% general practitioners or of asthenia by 52% of general practitioners. Liver biopsy seems to be the main obstacle for the management of hepatitis C patients which is due to a refusal of liver biopsy by the patient according to 55% of general practitioners, a fear of complications according to 25% of general practitioners. Sixty percent of general practitioners considered that liver biopsy was performed in less than 50% of patients with hepatitis C. Fifty three percent of general practitioner thought that hepatitis C network could be useful for increasing their knowledge.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Liver biopsy refusal by the patient restricts the management and therapy of patients with hepatitis C infection. Increase formation still requisite by 60 percent of general practitioner.
authors.affiliation: Réseau hépatite C, Auvergne. cbonny@chu-clermontfd.fr
authors.forename: Corinne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bonny
authors.forename: Romain
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rayssiguier
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ughetto
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Aublet-Cuvelier
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Baranger
authors.forename: Gérard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Blanchet
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Delteil
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hautefeuille
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lapalus
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Montanier
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bommelaer
authors.forename: Armand
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abergel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires