Pharyngitis 1987: a survey of physicians' attitudes and practices in southern Alberta.

A questionnaire survey concerning Streptococcal pharyngitis was completed by 85 southern Alberta family physicians. The data revealed a significant trend to overtreat pharyngitis with antibiotics because of the unreliability of clinical diagnosis and the lack of diagnostic manoeuvres with suitable ability to influence management. These data and a further questionnaire survey directed to the appreciation of other bacterial pharyngitides, demonstrate the importance of laboratory reports in biasing treatment, and further suggest that significant overtreatment of non-Streptococcal pharyngitis also occurs.