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Evaluation of Management Strategies for Viral Upper Respiratory Tract Infections Among Pediatricians in Türkiye
Ismail Yildiz1, Erdem Gonullu2, Utkucan Uckun3
1Department of Pediatrics, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, İstanbul, Türkiye.
Insights
Pediatricians
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Viral upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are common in children.
- Understanding pediatrician management is crucial for effective treatment strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate how pediatricians manage viral URTIs in children.
- To identify pediatrician tendencies in diagnostic and treatment approaches for viral URTIs.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 203 pediatricians.
- Data collected included pediatrician demographics and their approaches to diagnosing and treating viral URTIs.
Main Results:
- Pediatricians in private practice were less likely to diagnose viral URTIs based solely on clinical findings.
- Private practice pediatricians more frequently prescribed symptomatic cough treatments, herbal supplements, Pelargonium sidoides root extract, and honey-containing supplements.
- Increased experience correlated with less frequent diagnosis based on clinical findings and reduced prescription of preventive multivitamins and minerals.
Conclusions:
- Pediatricians' management of viral URTIs varies by practice setting and experience.
- A validated diagnostic and treatment algorithm for viral URTIs could aid clinical decision-making.
Background:
To evaluate how pediatricians manage viral upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) in children and their tendencies about the viral URTIs approaches.
Materials And Methods:
This study was conducted among pediatricians who participated in a descriptive cross-sectional survey. The survey included pediatricians who were willing to participate and who completed the survey forms between June 2023 and February 2024. The survey gathered data on the demographic characteristics of the pediatricians, as well as their diagnostic and treatment approaches for viral URTIs. Demographic data included the physicians' gender, age, academic title, province of duty, institution of practice, and duration of experience in pediatrics.
Results:
This study involved 203 pediatricians. The diagnosis of viral URTI based on clinical findings had a negative correlation with pediatricians' work experience (OR: 0.96 per year) and was more common among those working in private settings (OR: 0.38). Use of medications for symptomatic cough treatment was 2.72 times higher among pediatricians in private practice. Herbal supplement use was more common among pediatricians in private practice (p = 0.021) and those with ≥10 years of experience (p = 0.010). Systemic decongestant use was more frequent among pediatricians without an academic title (p = 0.030). Pelargonium sidoides root extract was used more often by pediatricians in private practice (p = 0.003), and they also preferred honey-containing supplements more frequently (p < 0.05). There was a negative correlation between experience in pediatric practice and multivitamins and minerals prescriptions for prevention of viral URTIs (OR: 0.97 for each year).
Conclusion:
Pediatricians in private settings and with more experience tend not to make a diagnosis of viral URTIs solely based on physical examination. Pediatricians working in private settings focus more on treatments that relieve cough symptoms. A viral URTI diagnostic and treatment algorithm with proven validity will help physicians in clinical diagnosis and treatment.
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