A web questionnaire to determine the advice general practitioners give on probiotics

Abstract

Purpose. To determine what advice general practitioners (GPs) are giving on the health benefits of over‐the‐counter probiotics.Design. A web‐based questionnaire.Materials and methods. The questionnaire was posted on the website for the Southwest Thames Faculty of the Royal College of General Practitioners and letters were sent to all Surrey GPs, inviting them to take part. The questionnaire included a variety of clinical scenarios in which probiotic advice might be appropriate.Results. There was a 16.6% response rate. The value of taking probiotics with and after antibiotics was featured in one question and 72% of GPs were aware that this reduces the incidence of diarrhoea. Thirteen clinical scenarios were included in the questionnaire. Six scenarios involved patients taking antibiotics for various types of infection and seven scenarios described other conditions in which probiotic benefits have been claimed. GPs varied in their experience and opinion as to whether advice to take a probiotic would be appr...