Publications by authors named "Marc De Meyere"
Background: Although studies are available on patients' ideas, concerns, and expectations in primary care, there is a scarcity of studies that explore the triad of ideas, concerns, and expectations (ICE) in general practice consultations and the impact on medication prescribing.
Aim: To evaluate the presence of ICE and its relation to medication prescription.
Design Of Study: Cross-sectional study.
Purpose: Many countries have national guidelines for the treatment of pharyngitis. We wanted to compare the recommendations and the reported evidence in national guidelines for the management of acute sore throat in adults.
Methods: Guidelines were retrieved via MEDLINE and EMBASE and through a Web-based search for guideline development organizations.
Purpose: Antibiotics are still overprescribed for self-limiting upper respiratory tract infections such as acute sore throat, and physicians mention patient's desire for antibiotics as a driving force. We studied patients' concerns when visiting their family physician for acute sore throat, more specifically the importance they attach to antibiotic treatment and pain relief.
Methods: Family physicians in 6 peer groups in Belgium participated in an observational postvisit questionnaire survey.
Purpose: In evaluating complaints suggestive of rhinosinusitis, family physicians have to rely chiefly on the findings of a history, a physical examination, and plain radiographs. Yet, evidence of the value of signs, symptoms, or radiographs in the management of these patients is sparse. We aimed to determine whether clinical signs and symptoms or radiographic findings can predict the duration of the illness, the effect of antibiotic treatment, or both.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis paper reviews the experience of international exchange of medical students for general practice. The experience is based on the EU Socrates programme 'Primary Health Care' that offers, since 1992, clinical attachments and research electives in primary care. This programme involves 11 university departments of general practice/primary care in eight countries: Austria - Vienna; Belgium - Gent; Germany Düsseldorf; Italy - Monza, Udine; Netherlands Nijmegen; Slovenia - Ljubljana; Sweden - Göteborg; and the UK - Edinburgh, Imperial College London and Nottingham.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: International research has proved that academic detailing positively influences the prescribing behaviour of physicians. In the North-East Flanders region of Belgium, a quantitative study of the feasibility and acceptability of academic detailing in general practice has demonstrated that academic detailers are appreciated by physicians.
Objective: In addition to the quantitative study, a qualitative study was carried out to determine physicians' attitudes to academic detailing and their objections against it.
Objective: This study intended to investigate the reproducibility of the Waters' view for maxillary sinusitis and to define its place in clinical practice.
Materials And Method: Radiographs of 80 maxillary sinuses of patients with suspected acute sinusitis were read by 6 radiologists, 6 ENT surgeons, 6 general practitioners (GPs). Interobserver agreement was calculated using the kappa statistic.
Objective: To compare the efficacy of amoxicillin vs placebo in patients with an acute upper respiratory tract infection and purulent rhinorrhea.
Study Design: Double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial.
Population: The 416 patients included from 69 family practices were 12 years or older, presenting with acute upper respiratory complaints, and having a history of purulent rhinorrhea and no signs of complications of sinusitis.