Patients' attitudes to Helicobacter pylori breath and stool antigen tests compared to blood serology.

BACKGROUND

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends that patients with uninvestigated dyspepsia, unresponsive to proton pump inhibitors, should be tested for Helicobacter pylori using a stool antigen or urea breath test rather than blood-based serology.

OBJECTIVE

To determine if a stool antigen or urea breath test is acceptable to patients.

METHOD

Satisfaction questionnaire circulated to all primary care patients who had blood serology for H. pylori between January and July 2004.

RESULTS

Four hundred and sixty-two out of 717 Gloucestershire patients returned the questionnaire. Three-quarters of respondents stated that they would be willing to provide a stool or breath H. pylori test if they were told they were more accurate than the blood test. If the blood test was not available, 58% stated they would prefer the breath test and 34% the stool test. When patients were not given an explanation for the transfer to the new tests, only 11% stated they would prefer to provide a stool and 19% the breath test. 80% required an extra appointment for their blood test.

CONCLUSION

The majority of patients would be happy to provide a stool sample or breath test provided they are made aware that these tests are more accurate than blood serology.