Abstract
Background: The increasing development of bacterial resistance requires increased attention regarding perscription of antibiotics.
Materials and methods: As a part of a seminar in the education of general practitioners, questionschemes were in advance distributed; schemes where the 55 participants retrospectively were meant to register their ten last consultations where antibiotics were perscribed. 44 schemes were returned.
Results: Choosing antibiotics, dosis and duration of treatment correlated each and one with the guide from Statens helsetilsyn on correct use of antibiotics in 78 % of the consultations, but only in 42 % all over. It was positive correlation between the width of the terapeutic drug spectrum and extent of uncertainty in the doctors assessments of whether antibiotics were indicated. Our scientific research showed a clear variation between the different doctors considering the risk of microbial resistance among the different groups of diagnoses. On lack of or uncertain indication, antibiotics were perscribed in almost one third of the consultations.
The patients expectations also influenced the perscription of antibiotics, especially on uncertain indication.
Interpretation: The over all results indicate that there is still a potential for improvement on handling antibiotic drugs among Norwegian general practitioners. According to this recommendation, the source of knowledge should be the guidelines for antibiotic treatment in general practice, published by Statens helsetilsyn. This could especially be important reading for new general practitioners educated in countries with a more liberal culture of antibiotic perscription.