title: Approach, attitudes, and knowledge of general practitioners in relation to Helicobacter pylori is inadequate. There is much room for improvement!
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection is one of the most common infections in humans. Due to its worldwide prevalence, a series of guidelines and recommendations has been developed for the appropriate screening, diagnosis, and management of patients with Hp infection.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the approach, attitudes, and knowledge of a group of Mexican general practitioners in relation to Hp.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted that evaluated the knowledge of Hp diagnosis and treatment through the application of a questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From the total of 430 questionnaires delivered, information was obtained from 411 (95% response rate). The most frequent indications for eradication treatment were peptic ulcer (48.4%), gastroesophageal reflux disease (41.8%), and dyspepsia (39.2%). Thirty-one percent of the physicians surveyed used more than one test to look for Hp, and serology was the most commonly employed method. The most widely used antibiotic regimen was clarithromycin plus amoxicillin (63.8%), followed by metronidazole plus tetracycline (16%). Ninety-two percent of the physicians confirmed eradication through endoscopy for the histologic analysis and only 23% utilized the breath test.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results show the lack of knowledge about the established diagnostic and treatment recommendations for Hp infection. The implementation of workshops, courses, and conferences, or the formulation of practical guidelines should be directed at primary care physicians to strengthen the practice of medicine based on scientific evidence.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Fisiología Digestiva y Motilidad Gastrointestinal, Instituto de Investigaciones Médico Biológicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Veracruz, México.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Cano-Contreras
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Fisiología Digestiva y Motilidad Gastrointestinal, Instituto de Investigaciones Médico Biológicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Veracruz, México.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rascón
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Fisiología Digestiva y Motilidad Gastrointestinal, Instituto de Investigaciones Médico Biológicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Veracruz, México.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amieva-Balmori
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Fisiología Digestiva y Motilidad Gastrointestinal, Instituto de Investigaciones Médico Biológicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Veracruz, México.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ríos-Gálvez
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Fisiología Digestiva y Motilidad Gastrointestinal, Instituto de Investigaciones Médico Biológicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Veracruz, México.
authors.forename: Y J
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Maza
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Fisiología Digestiva y Motilidad Gastrointestinal, Instituto de Investigaciones Médico Biológicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Veracruz, México.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meixueiro-Daza
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Fisiología Digestiva y Motilidad Gastrointestinal, Instituto de Investigaciones Médico Biológicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Veracruz, México.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Roesch-Dietlen
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Fisiología Digestiva y Motilidad Gastrointestinal, Instituto de Investigaciones Médico Biológicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Veracruz, México. Electronic address: jose.remes.troche@gmail.com.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Remes-Troche
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Conocimiento; Eradication; Erradicación; Helicobacter pylori; Knowledge; Mexico; México