NHG guidelines
Some GPs also prescribe antibiotics for an eye infection, even though there is no indication for this. In contrast, the general practitioners adhere well to the guideline for low back pain and hardly prescribe muscle relaxants. This is evident from research by the Radboudumc and the Nivel in collaboration with the Dutch General Practitioners Association (NHG) published today in the British Journal of General Practice. The results show that there is room for improvement, especially with regard to long-term prescription of antacids.
prescribing behavior
The researchers were unable to find any indication in 90 percent of the prescriptions for long-term use of antacids. This mainly concerns the stronger stomach acid inhibitors, the so-called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). It is known that it is difficult to phase them out. There was little difference in prescribing behavior between GPs. That difference did exist when incorrectly prescribing antibiotics for an eye infection; the percentage of incorrect prescriptions per GP varied between 0 and 90 percent. The percentage of muscle relaxants in low back pain varied between 0 and 11 percent per GP. These numbers have not declined in recent years.
Lifestyle Advice
According to the researchers, the results point to a structural problem in prescribing antacids. General practitioner and co-researcher Jako Burgers: “Weaning off these antacids is difficult; patients get their stomach problems back if they taper off too quickly and then many patients start taking the drugs again. With all the annoying side effects for the patients and unnecessary costs for society. GPs can help patients to taper off gastric acid inhibitors. This can be done, among other things, by giving tailor-made lifestyle advice.”
National campaign
The research confirms the need for the national campaign Appropriate care for stomach complaints, which the Do or leave? started this month. In an e-learning from the NHG, this guides general practitioners to the correct indications for gastric acid inhibitors.
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