TREATMENT OF SYMPTOMS OF COMMON COLD BY GENERAL PRACTITIONERS IN MALAYSIA

摘要

This cross-sectional study was conducted at 50 clinics (25 in urban areas and 25 in rural areas) of private general practitioners (GPs), using a disguised-customer design. The researcher presented at each clinic as a patient complaining of symptoms of common cold. The treatment and advice given was recorded. Medicines prescribed were cough medicines (25.5%), antibiotics (18.5%), antipyretic/analgesics (14.8%), antihistamines (13.9%), lozenges (11.6%), combination of antihistamines and decongestants (9.7%), vitamin C (2.7%) and other medications (3.7%). Overall, 80% of the GPs prescribed antibiotics and this was more prevalent in the rural clinics (92% versus 68%, p = 0.034). There were significant differences in the instructions given to the patients by the clinic assistants in the urban and rural areas. The average treatment cost was RM31.76+9.43, with significant difference between urban and rural clinics (RM35.72+6.41 versus RM27.80+10.38, p<0.05). The high prevalence of antibiotics prescribed for common cold is a cause for concern