771 The Management of Acute Gastroenteritis in Children in Portugal

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the knowledge/practice in the AGE's management in children. Methods: An anonymous semi-structured questionnaire(21 questions) was applied to paediatricians, paediatrician fellows(PF) and general practitioners(GP) from July 7 to September 25, 2009, in the site of SPP. The Zprobe was used to compare paediatricians/PF(1);paediatricians/ GP(2). Results: There were 430 answers:paediatricians 261(27.3% registered paediatricians in the national Board), PF 94, GP 83. They answered they knew ESPGHAN'recommendations for Oral Rehydration Solution(ORS) use: paediatricians 82.0%;PF 76.6%;GP 41.0%,(1)p=0.220;(2)p< 0.001. The sodium recommended ORS content was correctly answered by paediatricians:68.6%; PF:69.1%; GP:32.5%,(1)p=0.397;(2)p< 0.001. ORS was reported to be used in 86.3% of cases (paediatricians:88.5%; PF:95.7%;GP:68.7%,(1) p=0.017;(2)p< 0.001); and home made “ORS” in 12.8% (GP:“yes”:25.3%;PF:“no”:57.4%,(2)p< 0.001). Nineteen percent answered they would ever recommend stopping diet. The delay until reaβuming normal diet was aβumed in 10.5%(paediatricians:6.5%; PF:1.1%; GP:33.8%,(1)p=0.005;(2)p< 0.001) and the reported use of juices/cola was respectively: juices: paediatricians:2.7%; PF:0%; GP:3.6%,(2)p=0.367 and cola: paediatricians:5.0%; PF:0%; GP:13.3%, (2)p=0.045. Drugs have been used in 26.8% (9.7% if we excluded racecadotril and probiotics). Personal preferences in the presentation of ORS included mostly pre-prepared solutions(paediatricians: 64.0;PF:66.0;GP:47.0%, (1) p=0.377; (2) p=0.010). Conclusions: The practice in the AGE' management in children in Portugal is mostly based on ESPGHAN recommendations. The paediatricians/ PF seemed to have a better knowledge/practice than GP, emphasizing the need to spread these recommendations to all profeβionals involved in paediatric care.