Do general practitioners use what's in their doctor's bag?

OBJECTIVE

To find out what general practitioners (GPs) take with them on house calls and how frequently they use it?

DESIGN

A questionnaire about the drugs and medical equipment used during house calls.

SETTING

Two peer review groups of GPs in Overijse and Hoeilaart (Belgium).

SUBJECTS

29 GPs.

MEAN OUTCOME MEASURES

Availability and use of drugs and medical equipment on house calls.

RESULTS

All GPs had a stethoscope, a sphygmomanometer, an otoscope and sterile injection syringes at their disposal on house calls and they used them frequently. Only 57% took a blood glucose sensor with them and 25% took the medical records on home visits. Though only 50% always carried all of the most common emergency drugs with them, almost 100% of GPs had administered all of them in the previous 12 months. Only epinephrine and atropine were not frequently administered.

CONCLUSION

Most of the GPs were sufficiently equipped to meet most situations that can occur during house visits and emergency calls. Most of the available drugs and equipment were used during the 12 months preceding the registration. Only the medical records and a blood glucose sensor were insufficiently available.