Prostatitis-like symptoms: diagnosis and management in a Malaysian primary care population.
BACKGROUND
Little is known about how primary care physicians (PCPs) in Asia diagnose and manage prostatitis-like symptoms. This study investigated the clinical diagnosis of and care provided for prostatitis-like symptoms by PCPs in a Malaysian population, and compared these findings to reports from other areas.


METHODS
All members of the Penang Private Medical Practitioners' Society were asked to complete a self-administered survey. Nonresponders were contacted after 3 weeks and received a telephone request after 6 weeks.


RESULTS
Of the 786 practitioners contacted, 669 considered themselves to be PCPs, including 279 (42%) who responded to the survey. Adult males with prostatitis-like symptoms typically constitute <1% of the patients seen by PCPs. Most PCPs (72%) believe that prostatitis-like symptoms are caused by bacterial infection. 61% of PCPs base their diagnosis of prostatitis-like symptoms on clinical history, a physical examination and dipstick urinalysis. Standard management was to prescribe 1 or 2 courses of antimicrobials.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the 8.7% prevalence found in a previous survey in this population, prostatitis remains underdiagnosed in Malaysia. In contrast to many other clinical settings, urologists in Malaysia see a large proportion of newly diagnosed and treatment-naive prostatitis patients, providing an opportunity for clinical diagnostic and treatment studies.
Lee
Shaun Wen Huey
SW
School of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Science, Lam Wah Ee Hospital, Penang , Malaysia.
Liong
Men Long
ML
Yuen
Kah Hay
KH
Leong
Wing Seng
WS
Khan
Nurzalina
N
Cheah
Phaik Yeong
PY
Krieger
John N
JN
D000328:Adult; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010808:Physical Examination; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011472:Prostatitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D011934:Reagent Strips; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016482:Urinalysis / Q000295:instrumentation; D014556:Urine / Q000382:microbiology; D014563:Urodynamics; D014572:Urology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D011934:Reagent Strips