Ano-rectal complaints in general practitioner visits: consumer point of view.

Aims: The perception patients consulting for primary care have of anorectal disorders has never been evaluated. Our aim was to analyze proctological complaints among outpatients consulting general practitioners.

Patients And Methods: Among 1484 physicians who responded to a nationwide mailing in France, 161 enrolled 437 females and 358 males consulting between October 2004 and December 2005.

Results: Females were younger than males (46 +/- 15 vs 51 +/- 13 years) (p<0.0001). Intermediate and upper social-occupational categories were overrepresented as compared with the general population. Symptoms were pain (48%), bleeding (37%), swelling (26%) and pruritus (24%). For 76%, these symptoms persisted for less than one month and 58% mentioned earlier visits or prior treatment. The first manifestation was correlated with a pregnancy in 31% of women. Present symptoms were secondary to acute constipation (52%), stress (33%), ingestion of spices (29%) or alcohol (20%), and diarrhea (8%). Symptoms were considered important in 61% or a cause of anxiety in 33% of patients. Treatment was prescribed for all patients: ointments (90%), phlebotonics (66%) or suppositories (51%), in combination for 75% of prescriptions. Patients preferred oral medicines (41%), ointments (30%) and suppositories (7%).

Conclusion: Proctological complaints are a reason for repeated visits to the general practitioner and lead to repeated prescriptions. Patients appreciate anti-hemorrhoidal treatments variably.