Requesting physicians' experiences regarding infectious disease consultations

• Main Authors: Gennai Stéphane, Laborde Laurent, Sellier Elodie, Pavese Patricia, Stahl Jean-Paul, François Patrice
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2011-03-01
• Series: BMC Infectious Diseases
• Online Access: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2334/11/62

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Solicited consultations constitute a substantial workload for infectious disease (ID) specialists in the hospital setting. The objectives of this survey were to describe requesting physicians' experiences regarding ID consultations.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross-sectional survey was conducted in a university-affiliated hospital in France in 2009. All physicians were eligible (<it>n </it>= 530) and received a self-administered questionnaire. The main outcomes were reasons for request and opinion. Secondary outcomes were frequency of request and declared adherence to recommendations.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The participation rate was 44.7% (237/530). Among the responders, 187 (79%) had solicited the ID consultation service within the previous year. Ninety-three percent of the responders (173/187) were satisfied with the ID consultation. The main reasons for requesting consultations were the need for therapeutic advice (93%), quality of care improvement (73%) and the rapidity of access (61%). ID consultations were requested several times a month by 52% (72/138) of senior physicians and by 73% (36/49) of residents (<it>p </it>= 0.01). Self-reported adherence to diagnostic and therapeutic recommendations was 83% and 79%, respectively.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The respondent requesting physicians expressed great satisfaction regarding ID consultations that they requested principally to improve patient care and to assist in medical decision making.</p>