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Factors associated with the use of rapid antigen diagnostic tests in children presenting with acute pharyngitis among French general practitioners

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Abstract

In this investigation, we wanted: (i) to describe the attitudes and declared practices of a representative sample of French general practitioners (GPs) regarding rapid antigen diagnostic tests (RADTs) for acute pharyngitis and (ii) to identify the GPs’ characteristics associated with the use of an RADT in the last paediatric patient with pharyngitis. We performed a cross-sectional survey conducted in 2012 among a representative sample of 1,126 self-employed GPs in France. 60.1 % of GPs declared that they used an RADT in their last patient aged between 3 and 16 years presenting with acute pharyngitis; 29.6 % of these tests were positive. Among the GPs who did not use an RADT, 50.2 % prescribed an antibiotic, compared to 30.5 % of prescriptions among GPs who performed an RADT, whatever its result. In a multivariate analysis, GPs’ age between 45 and 54 years and having attended Continuing Medical Education (CME) sessions on infectious diseases in the past year were significantly associated with an increased use of an RADT in the last patient with pharyngitis, whereas a low volume of activity, occasionally practising alternative medicine, receiving pharmaceutical representatives at the practice and declaring a consultation duration <15 min were factors associated with a decreased use of RADTs. The use of RADTs by GPs must be promoted; our findings could help define interventions to improve practice.

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Acknowledgements

We thank all the GPs who participated in the surveys, as well as members of the supervisory committee of the French Panel of General Practices.

The French Panel of General Practices received funding from Direction de la Recherche, des Etudes, de l’Evaluation et des Statistiques (DREES)—Ministère du travail, des relations sociales, de la famille, de la solidarité et de la ville, Ministère de la santé et des sports, through a multi-annual agreement on objectives. The work of C.P. was supported by the Méditerranée Infection foundation (a non profit-making foundation, http://www.mediterranee-infection.com/), which paid for her accommodation and travel expenses when coming to Marseille. A.M.-L. received a Ph.D. grant from the same foundation. None of the above bodies had any role in the study design; the collection, analysis and interpretation of data; the writing of the paper; or the decision to submit this paper for publication.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Authorship/contribution

C.P. designed the study and wrote the article. A.M.-L. performed the statistical analysis. A.M.-L., B.V. and P.V. reviewed the study protocol and the article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Aix Marseille Université (Aix Marseille School of Economics—SESSTIM UMR 912, Inserm IRD), Marseille, France

    A. Michel-Lepage, B. Ventelou, P. Verger & C. Pulcini

  2. IHU, Fondation Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France

    A. Michel-Lepage

  3. ORS PACA, Observatoire Régional de la Santé Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Marseille, France

    B. Ventelou & P. Verger

  4. CNRS, U6579 (greqam), Marseille, France

    B. Ventelou

  5. Service d’Infectiologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice, Hôpital l’Archet 1, 151 Route Saint Antoine de Ginestière, CS 23079, 06202, Nice Cedex 3, France

    C. Pulcini

  6. Faculté de Médecine, Université Nice—Sophia Antipolis, Nice, France

    C. Pulcini

Authors
  1. A. Michel-Lepage
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  2. B. Ventelou
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  3. P. Verger
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  4. C. Pulcini
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to C. Pulcini.

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Michel-Lepage, A., Ventelou, B., Verger, P. et al. Factors associated with the use of rapid antigen diagnostic tests in children presenting with acute pharyngitis among French general practitioners. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 33, 723–728 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-013-2003-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-013-2003-9

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