General practitioners’ patterns of treatment of febrile travellers in north Queensland: an exploratory study
Kajsa L. Engström A D , Jane Mills B , William J. H. McBride C and Caroline M. Johansson AA School of Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
B School of Nursing, Midwifery and Nutrition, James Cook University, PO Box 6811, Cairns, Qld 4870, Australia.
C School of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Cairns Campus, c/− Cairns Base Hospital, PO Box 902, Cairns, Qld 4870, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: kajen479@student.liu.se
Australian Journal of Primary Health 18(2) 166-171 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY11039
Submitted: 31 March 2011 Accepted: 26 July 2011 Published: 15 November 2011
Abstract
In north Queensland, recurring epidemics of dengue fever are a public health concern. Each epidemic is initiated by an index case: an infected person arriving from an endemic country or region with dengue activity who then transmits the disease to local mosquitoes. A timely diagnosis of dengue in an index case and notification to public health services is essential to prevent epidemics. This qualitative study explores north Queensland general practitioners’ experiences and patterns of treatment of febrile travellers. Individual, semi-structured interviews with 50 general practitioners working in north Queensland were conducted. Analysis of the data resulted in four themes for discussion: characteristics of febrile travellers presenting to local general practitioners, the cost of pathology tests as a barrier to diagnosis, appropriate pathology testing, and notifying tropical public health services. Recommendations from this study point to a need for ongoing education and training for general practitioners in best practice with regards pathology testing for suspected dengue fever cases. As well, there is a need to provide clearer guidelines to general practitioners on when to notify tropical public health services of suspicious diagnoses of dengue.
Additional keywords: dengue, diagnostic test, general practice, public health, routine.
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