Thirty years of family medicine publications in Israel (1975-2004): what, where, and how much?

Background: Departments of family medicine in Israel were established in the 1970s. Until now, little or no effort has been made to characterize the productivity of Israeli board-certified family medicine physicians in publishing peer-reviewed scientific articles.

Methods: Publications were identified by 2 methods.

Clinical and laboratory profile of febrile respiratory infections in general practice.

Background: Respiratory tract infection (RTI) is a common diagnosis in the primary care setting. The aim of the study was to characterize the clinical course and laboratory manifestations of febrile RTI in Israeli adults presenting to primary care clinics.

Methods: A prospective study over a 3-month winter period in 3 urban university primary care clinics of 122 consecutive adult patients seen by their family practitioners.

Acute otitis media--a brief explanation to parents and antibiotic use.

Background: Acute otitis media (AOM) is a common self-limiting disease in children. Antibiotic use is controversial. Physicians in the USA and in Israel prescribe antibiotics almost universally, while physicians in other countries report good outcome without any treatment.