title: Survey of Spanish general practitioners' attitudes toward management of sore throat: an internet-based questionnaire study.
abstract: The management of sore throat varies widely in Europe. The objective of this study was to gain insight into clinicians' perceptions on the current management of sore throat in Spain.
  
  
  
  Cross-sectional, internet-based questionnaire study answered from July to September 2013. General practitioners (GPs) affiliated with the two largest scientific societies of primary care were invited to participate in the study. Questions were asked about physician knowledge, the use of current national guidelines for sore throat management, and management in two clinical scenarios, depicting a young adult with sore throat and: 1. cough, coriza with or without fever, and 2. fever without cough and coriza.
  
  
  
  The questionnaire was completed by 1476 GPs (5%) and 12.7% declared using rapid antigen detection tests. Antibiotics were considered by 18.8% of the GPs in the first scenario and by 32% in the second scenario (p < 0.001). The antibiotics most commonly mentioned by GPs were amoxicillin and amoxicillin + clavulanate (52.7 and 31.2%, respectively) whereas penicillin V was only prescribed in 11.9% of the cases. The drugs most commonly considered in both scenarios were analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs. Antitussives, decongestants and expectorants were more commonly prescribed in cases of suspected viral infection (p < 0.001).
  
  
  
  GPs have misconceptions as to the indications for using rapid antigen detection tests and prescribing drugs in the management of sore throat. These results suggest that guidelines are seldom followed since one in five GPs declared giving antibiotics for patients with a suspected viral infection and the use of second-choice antibiotics seems considerable.
authors.affiliation: Primary Healthcare Centre Via Roma, Barcelona, Spain. carles.llor@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Carl
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6644-717X
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Llor
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaringology, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.|Faculty of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vilaseca
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaringology, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lehrer-Coriat
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Arizcun (Group on respiratory diseases, Sociedad Española de Farmacia Comunitaria), Sant Pere de Ribes, Spain.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Boleda
authors.affiliation: Primary Healthcare Centre Algorta (Group on Infectious Diseases SEMERGEN), Getxo, Vizcaya, Spain.
authors.forename: José L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Cañada
authors.affiliation: Primary Healthcare Centre Jaume I, University Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moragas
authors.affiliation: Primary Healthcare Centre La Marina (Group on Infectious Diseases, semFYC), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Josep M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cots
mesh_terms: D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019468:Disease Management; D058005:General Practitioners; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D010404:Penicillin V / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D013030:Spain; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination; D000658:Amoxicillin; D010404:Penicillin V
keywords: Antibiotics; Primary care; Rational use of antibiotics; Sore throat; Spain