ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To compare the perception of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) between patients and general practitioners (GPs) in terms of severity and evolution of symptoms and medication adherence. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional observational study was performed in France in a sample of GPs who included patients for whom a BPH treatment was prescribed. Data were collected on patient and GP characteristics, diagnosis, BPH management, severity and evolution of symptoms and medication adherence. RESULTS: One thousand and ninety-eight patients were recruited by 247 GPs. In 87.4% of cases, diagnosis was performed by GPs. Among them, 82.7% of patients were treated by monotherapy. The choice of a treatment was mainly based on treatment efficacy and the patient's opinion was taken into account by 5% of GPs. The patient's evaluation of symptoms severity was consistent with the GP's in 53.9% of cases. A worsening of symptoms was reported significantly more frequently by patients (18.5%) than by GPs (8.8%). Among 94 patients who reported poor adherence, GPs estimated that the level of medication adherence was good for 72 of these (77%). CONCLUSION: There was discordance between the evaluation made by GPs and by patients on the perception of BPH symptoms and medication adherence. The patient's opinion was rarely taken into account in the therapeutic decision, reflecting a lack of shared medical decision-making, which would be helpful for the physician in order to optimize BPH management.
Subject(s)
Attitude to Health , General Practitioners/psychology , Medication Adherence/psychology , Patients/psychology , Prostatic Hyperplasia/diagnosis , Prostatic Hyperplasia/psychology , Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists/therapeutic use , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Cross-Sectional Studies , France , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Patient Education as Topic/methods , Prostatic Hyperplasia/drug therapy , Quality of Life , Risk Factors , Sampling Studies , Severity of Illness Index , Surveys and Questionnaires , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Common infectious diseases (CID) of the airways and the gastrointestinal tract are still a considerable cause of morbidity and mortality in elderly. The present study examined the beneficial effect of a dairy product containing the probiotic strain Lactobacillus casei DN-114 001 (fermented product) on the resistance of free-living elderly to CID. The study was multicentric, double blind and controlled, involving 1072 volunteers (median age = 76.0 years) randomised for consumption of either 200 g/d of fermented (n 537) or control (non-fermented) dairy product (n 535) for 3 months, followed by an additional 1 month's follow-up. The results showed that, when considering all CID, the fermented product significantly reduced the average duration per episode of CID (6.5 v. 8 d in control group; P = 0.008) and the cumulative duration of CID (7 v. 8 d in control group; P = 0.009). Reduction in both episode and cumulative durations was also significant for all upper respiratory tract infections (URTI; P < 0.001) and for rhinopharyngitis (P < 0.001). This was accompanied with an increase of L. casei species in stools throughout the fermented product consumption (2-3.8 x 107 equivalents of colony-forming unit/g of stools, P < 0.001). The cumulative number of CID (primary outcome) was not different between groups nor was the CID severity, fever, pathogens' occurrence, medication, immune blood parameters and quality of life. The fermented product was safe and well tolerated. In conclusion, consumption of a fermented dairy product containing the probiotic strain L. casei DN-114 001 in elderly was associated with a decreased duration of CID in comparison with the control group, especially for URTI such as rhinopharyngitis.
