Pertussis diagnostic practices of general practitioners in the Netherlands: A survey study

Figures & data

Table 1. General practitioners’ reported reasons for testing and reasons for not testing for pertussis, the Netherlands, 2013 (n = 122).

	% (n)
Reasons for testing
To confirm the clinical pertussis diagnosis	70 (86)
On patients’ request	57 (70)
To rule out pertussis	51 (62)
To give more information on the duration of symptoms	50 (61)
To start preventive measures	43 (53)
To start treatment	7 (8)
Reasons for not testing
The diagnostic test result does not influence treatment	70 (86)
No direct contact with risk groups (hence no need for treatment)	52 (64)
Clear diagnosis due to direct link to a confirmed pertussis case	41 (50)
Clinical assessment alone is sufficient to diagnose pertussis	33 (40)
Costs for patients	28 (34)
Treatment has already started	25 (31)
Collecting blood samples in children is too stressful	25 (31)
Child is fully vaccinated	17 (21)
Time to receive test result	16 (20)
Referral to specialist	16 (19)

Table 2. General practitioners’ reported intention to test for pertussis, the Netherlands, 2013 (n = 122).

Intention to test^a	Mean (SD)	% (n) likely or definitely
Typical pertussis case vignette: A patient with two weeks of persistent coughing who had direct contact with a person diagnosed with pertussis	0.7 (1.1)	64 (78)
Symptom-based vignettes:	0.5 (0.8)	57 (70)
• Patient with a cough and a ‘whooping’ inhalation	0.6 (1.1)	57 (70)
• Patient with frequent expiratory coughing	0.6 (1.0)	53 (65)
• Patient who vomits after coughing	0.5 (1.1)	49 (60)
• Patient with a persistent cough for more than six weeks without other symptoms	0.3 (1.0)	46 (56)
Vulnerable groups at risk vignettes:	−0.1 (0.9)	25 (30)
• Infants of three months to one year old with two weeks of persistent coughing	−0.1 (1.0)	30 (37)
• A pregnant woman (third trimester) with two weeks of persistent coughing	−0.1 (1.0)	29 (35)
• An adult with two weeks of persistent coughing who has a baby of two months old	−0.2 (1.1)	26 (32)

^a Likelihood to test case ranging from −2 = definitely not, −1 = probably not, 0 = possibly, 1 = likely, 2 = definitely.