title: Effects of local variation, specialty, and beliefs on antiviral prescribing for influenza.
abstract: In 2004, we conducted a survey of physician knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding influenza diagnosis and treatment at Baystate Medical Center in Massachusetts and Scott & White Hospital and Clinic in Texas. Of the 579 physicians we contacted, 336 completed the survey. Sixty-one percent of the respondents prescribed antivirals, and 62% used rapid testing. Prescribing practices were associated with location, practice size, use of rapid testing, and belief in the efficacy of antivirals.
authors.affiliation: Division of General Medicine and Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA 01199, USA. Michael.Rothberg@bhs.org
authors.forename: Michael B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Rothberg
authors.forename: Aleta B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Bonner
authors.forename: M Hasan
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Rajab
authors.forename: Hyun Sun
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Barbara W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Stechenberg
authors.forename: David N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Rose
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003469:Culture; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008511:Medicine; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013038:Specialization; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents