Management of acute otitis media by New Zealand general practitioners.

AIMS: To determine the current management of acute otitis media by New Zealand general practitioners (GPs).

METHODS

A reply-paid questionnaire was sent to 2000 New Zealand GPs. The questions relate to management of a three year old child presenting with her first episode of acute otitis media.

RESULTS

95% of respondents reported they would usually or always use antibiotics. Amoxicillin was the antibiotic of choice, followed by amoxicillin/clavulanate. Cotrimoxazole was the antibiotic of choice in the case of allergy to amoxicillin. 82% of respondents recommended follow-up, with a broad range of follow-up times (24 hours to 12 weeks). Approximately half of practitioners considered 5-6 episodes of acute otitis media in a year as an appropriate threshold for referral for grommets. Most GPs had received an update on otitis media within the previous two years.

CONCLUSIONS

There is considerable variation in the management of acute otitis media by New Zealand GPs. Use of a national guideline may result in a more standardised, rational approach to the treatment of acute otitis media.