Survey reveals GP indigestion and heartburn pressures

Aug. 12, 2011 - PRLog -- Research by Doctors.net.uk and OTC bulletin has revealed that GPs’ waiting rooms are being kept busy due to a steady influx of patients suffering from indigestion and heartburn.  The survey found that 88 per cent of GPs see patients suffering from these conditions several times a week – and that 37 per cent see these patients on a daily basis.

Half of the GPs surveyed appealed to over-the-counter (OTC) medicine manufacturers to provide more evidence-based information which will help inform them about which products to recommend to patients. A similar number of GPs also suggested that their surgery does not receive enough information for patients, for example explanatory and self-care leaflets that can be placed in waiting rooms.

Of those surveyed, some 44 per cent of GPs advise patients to purchase OTC products, with the most popular recommendations being Gaviscon, Rennie and Zantac 75.  Around 79 per cent of those GPs who recommended OTC products said they recommend an antacid, with alginates the second most popular option (64 per cent).

Simon Grime, head of healthcare at Doctors.net.uk – the largest and most active professional network of doctors in the UK, said: “Indigestion and heartburn account for a significant proportion of GP’s workload, with over a third seeing patients with these conditions every day.  

“The survey revealed that GPs have a propensity to recommend OTC products and that manufacturers need to acknowledge the significant demand from GPs for efficacy and side effects information.”

Deborah Wilkes, editor of OTC bulletin, said: “With only one in two GPs saying that their surgery received enough information for patients, such as leaflets and posters for waiting rooms, there would appear to be a real gap which OTC manufacturers could fill.  While much marketing spend is targeted through traditional consumer-focused channels, these results suggest that the value of engaging with GPs shouldn’t be underestimated.”  

For more information:
Andrew Baud
andrew.baud@talapr.co.uk
+44 (0) 020 3397 3383

Note to editors:
The study of GPs was carried out exclusively for OTC bulletin by medeConnect Healthcare Insight, part of the Doctors.net.uk group.  The survey was conducted among 1,000 GPs during May 2011.
Doctors.net.uk is the largest and most active network of medical professionals in the UK.  
Doctors.net.uk has a membership of over 184,000 doctors, with 97 percent saying that the network is their most trusted source of information.  It is the online resource most frequently used by them and provides forums for discussion, education and extensive editorial content, including conference highlights to support them in making the best decisions for the care of their patients.
The network was created for doctors, by doctors in 1998.  More than 300 doctors now act as advisers and clinical information contributors.  Credibility and integrity of all published materials is assured thanks to an experienced editorial team and a code of absolute transparency for all information published.