[Dakar physicians' therapeutic attitude towards non complicated peptic ulcer disease]

Peptic ulcer disease is topic of guidelines in developed countries. In South area, without consensus conference, physicians' attitude towards this disease is varied. So, we aimed to describe therapeutic decisions of physicians in Dakar, regarding literature and the role of Helicobacter pylori in gastro-intestinal diseases. From 2001 december first to 2002 January 31, a survey was made in a sample of 171 physicians in Dakar with a questionnaire. All generalists, internists and gastroenterologists working in public or private health places of Dakar were concerned. The rate of responses was 68%. 65.5% of physicians had not read guidelines about peptic ulcer disease and H. pylori but 89% of them had read articles on these topics. Most of the physicians (76%) ordered systematically or mainly treatment to eradicate H. pylori. 95% of them did not require proof of infection before treatment. Association of gastric antisecretory drug with amoxicillin and metronidazole was mostly used (77.5%). Double dose of antisecretory drug was prescribed by 51.5% of physicians. For 40.5% of them, the duration of treatment was 7 days while 53.5% prolonged duration to 10 or 14 days. Complementary antisecretory drug was systematic for most of physicians (83.5%). These multiple therapeutic options, sometimes not in accordance with recommandations, militate in favour of more intensive participation of Dakar physicians to scientific meetings, in order to rationalize their therapeutic attitude towards peptic ulcer disease and take into account local data.