Doctors.net.uk survey finds many GPs recommend generic OTC medicines or products for vaginal thrush

Feb. 21, 2012 - PRLog -- A survey which was conducted for OTC bulletin - the newsletter for the OTC industry, by Doctors.net.uk - the UK’s largest network of medical professionals - shows that GPs favour generic OTC medicines or products for vaginal thrush.

The research, which involved more than 1,000 GPs across the UK, found the majority of them saw vaginal thrush sufferers at least a few times a week, but only 34 per cent frequently recommended branded OTC medicines or products.

The remaining 66 per cent of GPs surveyed said they frequently recommended generic medicines or products – ranging from 74 per cent in Wales to 60 per cent in London. Female doctors were more likely to recommend such medicines or products than men – 69 per cent compared to 63 per cent.

However, this could be linked to a lack of information about branded products and medicines, since half of GPs surveyed said they would like to receive more details from manufacturers, particularly on pricing. This figure was particularly high for the London SHA where 61 per cent of respondents wanted more information.

A similar proportion of GPs (53 per cent) felt their surgery did not have enough information for patients, such as leaflets for the waiting room.

The OTC medicine/product most likely to be recommended by GPs was clotrimazole cream/clotrimazole pessary. Seventy three per cent of GPs who had recommended OTC medicines or products had chosen this combination during the past month. Only Northern Ireland and the South-East SHA bucked this trend with clotrimazole cream topping the recommendations.

In terms of OTC brands, Bayer’s Canesten had the highest profile with 75 per cent of GPs who recommended it, saying they had done so during the past month. Products sold under the Boots brand had been recommended by eight per cent of respondents within the past month.

Simon Grime, Managing Director of Communications for Doctors.net.uk, said: “Our research confirms that although the majority of GPs see patients about vaginal thrush on a regular basis, they are far more likely to recommend a generic medicine or product than a specific brand.

“However, we have also found that around half of GPs would like more information about specific medicines and products, which presents a real educational opportunity for brands to help inform doctors’ recommendations.”