title: Management of rhinosinusitis in Dutch general practice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether general practitioners (GPs) distinguish between the management of acute rhinosinusitis (ARS) and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), especially with regard to prescription of antibiotics and nasal steroids.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire on the management of rhinosinusitis was sent to 1000 GPs in The Netherlands.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-six percent discriminated between ARS and CRS. However, the definition of ARS and CRS varied. The percentage of GPs prescribing antibiotics rose as rhinosinusitis severity increased. The prescription rate of nasal corticosteroids was highest for CRS (88.6%). Prescribing nasal corticosteroids in ARS was not very common.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most GPs discriminate between ARS and CRS and 54% accepted (the EP3OS-defined) 12 weeks as the division between ARS and CRS. Antibiotics and nasal steroids are commonly used agents, but the management of rhinosinusitis is not always consistent with guidelines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. r.hoffmans@amc.uva.nl
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hoffmans
authors.forename: Tjard
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schermer
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: van Weel
authors.forename: Wytske
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Fokkens
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D058006:General Practice / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D058005:General Practitioners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006633:Histamine Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D006633:Histamine Antagonists; D013256:Steroids