Methods: This is a web-based cross-sectional survey of a national convenience sample of 600 physicians in Turkey (325 pediatricians (PEDs), 214 family physicians/general practitioners (FP&GPs) and 61 otolaryngologists (ENTs)).
Results: Approximately 38.6% of selleck kinase inhibitor participants (39.4% of PEDs, 44.3% of GP&FPs and 14.7% of ENTs) stated that pneumatic otoscopy is essential for AOM diagnosis. Regarding the most common etiological agents of AOM in children, 54.2% of PEDs, 51.4% of FP&GPs and 57.4% of ENTs stated
that the most common causative agents of AOM are Streptococcus pneumoniae and non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae. Nearly 76% of participants indicated they use direct antibiotic therapy when they diagnose AOM in certain situations. The first-line choice of antibiotic therapy is amoxicillin clavulanate, and 67% of participants prefer to use antibiotic therapy for 7-10 days. Approximately 31% of all participants stated that “”viruses”" are the main cause of AOM; however, 62% of these participants
reported using antibiotic therapy. In comparison, 32% participants from private clinics prefer to treat AOM primarily with observation, a rate that is significantly higher than that PND-1186 clinical trial of other clinical settings. Physicians who prefer to use observation strategy also prefer the combination of paracetamol and NSAIDs. Approximately 41% of participants have undergone postgraduate medical education on the topic of AOM. In
total, 73% of all participant physicians believe that otitis media is a vaccine-preventable disease. With the information from all of the participants, the calculated mean cost per case of AOM is 28 +/- 4 USD. In Turkey, the estimated incidence of AOM is 24000-33 000 cases per 100 000 children <5 years of age (1 820 000-2 100 000 cases per year), selleck inhibitor and the estimated total cost of AOM is 61 152 000 USD (not including acute otitis media-related complications and otitis media-related hospitalizations).
Conclusion: The medical and economic burden of AOM to the health economics in Turkey is considerable. Specific educational programs and evidence-based national guidelines concerning AOM should be implemented. Improving diagnostic accuracy with education will lead to improved management, judicious use of antibiotics, decreased antibiotic resistance, and potential economic benefits. A more prudent use of antibiotics would also lower the economic burden of this disease. Vaccination seems to be promising for the prevention of AOM. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.