[Medical practices and expectations of general practitioners in relation to hepatitis C virus infection in the Auvergne region].
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.
Bonny
Corinne
C
Réseau hépatite C, Auvergne. cbonny@chu-clermontfd.fr
Rayssiguier
Romain
R
Ughetto
Sylvie
S
Aublet-Cuvelier
Bruno
B
Baranger
Jacques
J
Blanchet
Gérard
G
Delteil
Jacques
J
Hautefeuille
Philippe
P
Lapalus
Françoise
F
Montanier
Patrick
P
Bommelaer
Gilles
G
Abergel
Armand
A
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