CONTROLLED CLINICAL-TRIAL AND TREATMENT F OR ENT RESPIRATORY-TRACT INFECTIONS IN CHILDREN - A PRELIMINARY SURVEY OF HOMEOPATHIC PHYSICIANS

We performed a survey to assess the feasibility of a placebo-controlle d clinical trial of the treatment of recurrent ENT/respiratory tract i nfections in children, to assess the diversity of the drugs prescribed , and the acceptability of a clinical trial to homoeopathic physicians . A mailed questionnaire was sent to 237 homoeopathic physicians, aski ng for details of prescriptions for 10 consecutive children consulting for ENT/respiratory recurrent infections, and for two simulated cases . We also asked for their opinion about homoeopathic treatment evaluat ion. Only 48 (20 per cent) questionnaires were returned completed. The se gave 309 different acute treatments and 422 different preventive tr eatments for the 10 consecutive patients and 87 different prescription s for the simulated cases. A total of 467 different drugs were used. T he physicians who replied were favourable to the evaluation of homoeop athic drugs, reluctant for the use of a placebo; and they would like t o receive training in drug evaluation. Setting up a clinical trial in this field would require specific methodological and logistical adapta tions, and a detailed training programme for the homoeopathic doctors beforehand.