Survey of Lyme disease management in primary care in Poland
Journal Title: Family Medicine & Primary Care Review - Year 2019, Vol 21, Issue 3
Abstract
Background. Lyme disease (LD ) is the most frequent tick-borne human disease in the world. In patients with nonspecific or late-onset symptoms, LD is still a challenge for family physicians (FPs). Some studies which have been published on LD management by FPs revealed a deviation from the guideline recommendations and clinical practice. Objectives. The aim of this study was to determine the common practice of FPs in the treatment of LD and whether these practices align with the guideline recommendations. Material and methods. The study consisted of a survey of 54 FPs, including 46 women and 8 men at a mean age of 39.4 ± 10 years. An anonymous online questionnaire was used. The questionnaire was based on the guidelines for diagnosing and treating LD . Results. Most of the respondents work in a city (63%) or a small town (22.2%). 96.3% of them practice in primary care. 70.4% of the FPs had experienced a tick bite and 3.7% of them developed LD . 22.2% reported Lyme disease in their family. All of the respondents indicated erythema migrans (EM) as a characteristic symptom of LD , but only 3.7% of them reported that they would send their patients for serological testing. 18.5% of FPs considered seropositivity to be an indication for prescribing antibiotics. 85.2% of FPs correctly classified whether other than EM signs and symptoms were related to LD . 85.2% of the respondents said they would report LD to the Polish Food Safety and Inspection Service. Conclusions. Our study did not reveal a major deviation from the guideline recommendations. We found some FP misinterpretation, such as serology testing or antibiotherapy for asymptomatic patients. FPs should be trained at the clinical and epidemiological level. Up-to-date guidelines should be provided to FPs in order to limit inappropriate practices
Authors and Affiliations
Piotr Gutknecht, Magdalena Reiwer-Gostomska, Mikołaj Niemczyński, Konrad Siebert, Bartosz Trzeciak, Janusz Siebert
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP666858
- DOI -
- Views 66
- Downloads 0
Przydatność Kwestionariusza Berlińskiego w diagnostyce przesiewowej zaburzeń oddychania w czasie snu
Wstęp. Ze względu na częste występowanie zaburzeń oddychania w czasie snu (SRB D) w populacji ogólnej,w diagnostyce przesiewowej wykorzystuje się m.in. Kwestionariusz Berliński (BQ). Cel pracy. Ocena przydatności BQ w d...
Ostre zespoły okulistyczne w Praktyce Lekarza Rodzinnego
Jak dotąd w Polsce zdecydowana większość chorych z problemami narządu wzroku była diagnozowana i leczona od razu przez specjalistę okulistę, pełniącego w naszym kraju rolę „lekarza pierwszego kontaktu”. Ze względu na wpr...
Saucerization versus dissection on the repair of vesicovaginal fistulae
Background. An obstetrics fistula is both an unfortunate and annoying preventable complication that follows poorly managed prolonged obstructed labor. Despite an improvement in obstetric management, this condition has re...
The effect of modern medical technology on the availability and cost of cataract treatment in older patients
country. Objectives. The aim of the study was to examine the availability of surgical cataract treatment among older Polish patients. Material and methods. Using data from 25,970 hospitalizations at the Ophthalmology War...
Uwarunkowania medyczne i psychospołeczne występowania bólu u osób powyżej 60. roku życia
Wstęp. Ból jest definiowany jako nieprzyjemne odczucie zmysłowe i emocjonalne. Na odczuwanie bólu wpływają czynniki biologiczne, psychologiczne i społeczne. Cel pracy. Analiza występowania bólu w kontekście biopsychospo...