Differences in self-reported and observed prescribing practice of general practitioners and paediatricians for acute watery diarrhoea in children of Karachi, Pakistan.

Practice of 60 general practitioners (GPs) and 26 paediatricians for acute watery diarrhoea in children was observed. Later, these GPs and paediatricians were interviewed to record their self-reported prescribing behaviour. Fifty-two percent of the GPs and 12% of the paediatricians reported to prescribe antibiotics, but 77% of the GPs and 85% of the paediatricians were observed prescribing antibiotics for acute watery diarrhoea. Regarding antiamoebics, no difference was seen in number of self-reporting and observed GPs, but significant difference was seen in paediatricians. Of the paediatricians, only 12% reported to prescribe, but 62% were observed prescribing antiamoebics. Similarly, kaolin compounds were observed to be prescribed by smaller number of GPs (63%) than self-reporting ones (80%). Of the paediatricians, 31% reported to prescribe but 38% were observed prescribing kaolin compounds. These results show differences between self-reported and observed drug prescribing practices for acute watery diarrhoea in children. This difference was much wider in paediatricians than in GPs.