The Management of Patients With Diverticulosis and Diverticular Disease in Primary Care: An Online Survey Among Italian General Pratictioners.
To investigate the current opinion of Italian general practitioners (GPs) on the management of patients with diverticular disease (DD) of the colon.



The management of DD remains a point of debate, and guidelines are not uniform in their advice.



A web-based survey was conducted among Italian GPs. Twelve questions were aimed at the diagnosis, treatment, and management options for diverticulosis and symptomatic DD.



In total, 245 surveys were filled out. A high-fiber diet was prescribed widely in diverticulosis (44%), together with advice to allow seeds (30%). Rifaximin (26%) and probiotics (25%) were the most frequently prescribed drugs in this population. Colonoscopy was the most prescribed instrumental tool in the diagnosis (77%) and follow-up (21%) of symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease patients. Rifaximin, probiotics, and mesalazine were the most frequently prescribed drugs in symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease patients (82.8, 59.5%, and 36.3%, respectively). Finally, 77% of the Italian GPs prescribed laboratory exams in the follow-up of these patients. The vast majority of the Italian GPs (83%) managed suspected acute diverticulitis at home, and did not consider two episodes of acute diverticulitis as a strict surgical indication (86%). Rifaximin, probiotics, and mesalazine were the most frequently prescribed drugs to prevent recurrence of the disease (42.5%, 28.2%, and 12.4%, respectively). Finally, 87% of the Italian GPs prescribed laboratory examinations in the follow-up of these patients.



This survey shows that the current management of DD in primary care by Italian GPs is not fully in line with current guidelines and more recent literature data.
GIGA-CP (Gruppo Italiano per la Gastroenterologia Ambulatoriale-Cure Primarie) Association, Feltre (BL), Italy.
Rudi
R
De Bastiani
Guido
G
Sanna
Pierluigi
P
Fracasso
Maurizio
M
D'Urso
Edoardo
E
Benedetto
Antonio
A
Tursi
D000328:Adult; D019468:Disease Management; D043963:Diverticulosis, Colonic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D058005:General Practitioners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires