Background and objectives: A descriptive study on 118 MS patients in general practice, to describe the family physician's role in diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of patients.
Method: Random sample of 103 general practices (161 family physicians) throughout The Netherlands with a total list of 335,000 patients.
Results: MS patients had on average 5.7 encounters with general practice in 3 months compared to 2.3 in all other patients (P < 0.001). Home visits counted for 38.7% of all family physician's encounters in MS patients compared to 16.6% in all other patients (P < 0.01). The average encounter lasted 12.9 minutes per MS patient compared to 7.8 in all other patients (P < 0.01). Counselling by the family physician took place in all new patients and in 53% of known patients. Follow-up appointments were made with all new patients and 65.9% of all MS patients. Fifteen patients (12.7%) were newly referred to a specialist and 28 patients (24%) were still treated by specialists. No medication was prescribed to almost 40% of patients. Vitamin B, benzodiazepines, laxatives, antibiotics for treatment of urinary tract infections and muscle relaxants are the most frequently prescribed drugs. The average dose of vitamin B complex was 1.94 times the defined daily dose.
Conclusions: The family physician spends more time than average on MS patients, carries out more home visits and takes care of treatment of symptoms and complications of MS. Counselling and follow-up of patients takes an important place in family physician's management of MS. Vitamin B complex is being prescribed (too) frequently in a (too) high dose.