RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: This study was planned to determine the evaluation criteria for acute bacterial rhinosinusitis (ABRS) among primary health care physicians. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study was conducted with face-to-face survey method between April 2009 and June 2009. The physicians were asked to answer the prespecified questions about the etiopathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment criteria for ABRS by grading from 1 to 5. The demographic and undergraduate education information of the physicians, daily number of patients they see, the number of patients diagnosed with ABRS and family physicians specialization were asked. One hundred and forty two physicians visits were performed at 33 Health Centers or Public Health Centers. Sixty-nine doctors (34 males, 35 females; mean age 44.5±5.5 years; range 33 to 57 years) answered the survey. RESULTS: Medical experience was 20.0±5.5 years and 52.2% of the physicians were Family Physicians and 47.8% were General Practitioners. For diagnosis, the history (87.3%) and Waters X-ray (74.6%) were reported as the most utilized tools. Among antibiotics, amox-clu, cefuroxime axetil and levofloxacin were found to be preferred at rates of 80.9%, 76.1% and 60.3%, respectively. 74.6% and 96.8% of the physicians lacked the facility to perform radiological examination and culture, respectively. CONCLUSION: 48.6% of the visited physicians agreed to answer the questionnaire. According to the results of the survey, General Practitioners and Family Physicians involved in conducting the basic health services did not assimilate criteria for diagnosis and treatment of ABRS. Training targeting ABRS should be involved for postgraduate period.