Practice patterns for peptic ulcer disease: Are family physicians testing for H-pylori?

Background. Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) is a problem common in family medici ne. Recent evidence of Helicobacter pylori as an etiological agent of PUD h as led to National Institutes of Health recommendations for treatment to er adicate N. pylori through antibiotic therapy. The purpose of this study is to examine practice patterns of family physicians in treating PUD, their us e of H. pylori testing, and knowledge of current recommendations for PUD. Materials and Methods. A mail survey was sent to a random sample of 1,500 m embers of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Six hundred thirty use able surveys (49.1%) were available for analysis. Descriptive statistics we re obtained, as were inferential statistics focusing on the relationship of physician background characteristics to practices. Results. Thirty-eight percent of the respondents order diagnostic procedure s for the majority (50% or more) of their suspected PUD cases. Of the physi cians who reported ordering any diagnostic tests, 52% ordered the combinati on of upper gastrointestinal series and endoscopic gastroduodenoscopy. For patients with clinical diagnoses of PUD, 77% of doctors reported ordering a diagnostic test for H, pylori. Approximately 68% were aware that some kind of guidelines existed; only 11% reported that they were familiar with the National Institutes of Health recommendations for PUD. Conclusions. Although some of the practices of family physicians for treatm ent of PUD deviate from current recommendations, the majority of practices are consistent with current evidence.