title: [Clinical practice patterns of gastroenterologists for initial and maintenance therapy in gastroesophageal reflux disease: a nationwide online survey in Korea].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic condition and accompanied by frequent relapses. We aimed to evaluate the clinical practice patterns of gastroenterologists for initial and maintenance therapy of GERD in Korea.
  
  
  METHODS
  We administered a nationwide, multi-center, and questionnaire-based online survey between December 2007 and January 2008. The questionnaire consisted of 15 questions about prescribing patterns of initial and maintenance therapy for GERD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 371 gastroenterologists participated in the survey with the response rate of 77%. For mild cases of GERD, the most common choice of initial therapy was full dose proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) (59%), followed by half dose PPIs (20%), and H2 receptor antagonists (4%). For severe cases, full dose PPIs were prescribed in 99%. Almost all gastroenterologists agreed to the need for maintenance therapy. For both mild (95%) and severe (99%) cases of GERD, gastroenterologists preferred the use of PPI-based maintenance regimen. The preferred maintenance strategy for GERD was continuous therapy in erosive esophagitis (67%), and on-demand therapy in non-erosive reflux disease (68%). The overall duration of the therapy (initial+maintenance) was 7.7+/-5.1 wk in mild cases and 15.0+/-9.4 wk in severe cases. The duration of maintenance therapy was affected by symptom severity, followed by symptom frequency and endoscopic finding.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, a majority of the gastroenterologists is aware of importance on PPI-based pharmacological treatment for GERD. Further studies are needed to clarify the appropriate strategy and duration of maintenance therapy.
authors.affiliation: Healthcare Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital Healthcare System Gangnam Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Su Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Sang Gyun
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyun Chae
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: In Sung
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Joo Sung
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005762:Gastroenterology; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009862:Online Systems; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D056910:Republic of Korea; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors