title: [Acute fever: has the media coverage of the swine flu generated a medical overconsumption in primary care in France?].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Based on patient's declarations, evaluate if the media coverage of the pandemic flu (H1N1) has lead to an overconsumption of primary care. Identify the opinions of the general practionners (GP) concerning this media coverage and the health crisis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study, based on an electronic questionnaire, was conducted during the main period of the pandemic flu. Each GP was invited to include one patient who presented fever since less than 2 days, associated to two of four following clinical signs: cough, headache, coat throat and ache.
  
  
  RESULTS
  730 questionnaires were fully completed and analyzed. 96 patients (12,9%) have declared to the GP an overconsumption, and two thirds of them because of their concern about the swine flu and a quarter because the social control. This concern was noted by 80% of the GP from the beginning of the flu 77% of the GP have considered the media coverage of the flu alarming, while 69% of them have declared to feel serene concerning the pandemic. No statistic link has been noticed between the GP opinions and the overconsumption of their patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Media coverage of the swine flu and the state organization of the crisis have lead to an overconsumption estimated to 13%. Many efforts must be done in the future to reassure patients about flu and its vaccination.
authors.affiliation: Département de médecine générale, université Paris-Sud, 94276 Le Kremlin-Bicêtre. guidard2000@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Coindard
authors.forename: Pascale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Arnould
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Duhot
authors.forename: Rissane
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ourabah
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Raineri
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology; D005602:France; D006300:Health Services Misuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008402:Mass Media; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult