Differences in the evaluation and management of exercise-induced bronchospasm between family physicians and pulmonologists.
Previous studies have demonstrated that specialists and generalists differ in the evaluation and management of asthma especially in terms of use of objective testing. We speculated that there also may be differences in the diagnosis and management of exercise-induced respiratory complaints. An Internet survey was sent to samples of pulmonologists and family physicians. Our data suggests that pulmonologists are much more likely to order bronchoprovocation testing than family physicians, and family physicians are more likely to start any empiric therapy than perform bronchoprovocation testing when exercise-induced bronchospasm is suspected. These differences may lead to inaccurate or missed diagnoses and unnecessary morbidity.
Parsons
Jonathan P
JP
Ohio State University Medical Center, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Allergy and Sleep Medicine, USA. jonathan.parsons@osumc.edu
O'Brien
James M
JM
Lucarelli
Maria R
MR
Mastronarde
John G
JG
D001250:Asthma, Exercise-Induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D005194:Family Practice; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D010820:Physicians; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D015272:Pulmonary Medicine