[Clinical practice patterns of gastroenterologists for initial and maintenance therapy in gastroesophageal reflux disease: a nationwide online survey in Korea].
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.
Chung
Su Jin
SJ
Healthcare Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital Healthcare System Gangnam Center, Seoul, Korea.
Kim
Sang Gyun
SG
Jung
Hyun Chae
HC
Song
In Sung
IS
Kim
Joo Sung
JS
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
D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors