The European journal of general practice
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Comparative Study
Management of acute cough: comparisons between Belgian and Dutch GPs.
In Europe there are large variations in overall outpatient antibiotic use, even between two neighbouring countries as Belgium and the Netherlands. We aimed to compare the management of acute cough between Belgian and Dutch general practitioners (GPs). ⋯ Antibiotic prescription rates for adult patients with acute cough were not significantly higher in Belgian than in Dutch general practice at the 5% significance level. Dutch GPs' antibiotic prescriptions were more in line with national guidelines. Bronchodilator prescription rates were similar. Because Dutch GPs probably encountered more severe cases of acute cough compared with their Belgian colleagues, the observed prescribing differences might be underestimated.