Simulation model of GP practice in treatment of paediatric streptococcal pharyngitis

<p>This paper builds on the survey of GP practice summarised and described in PSSRU Discussion Paper 907 ("Survey of GP<p><p>practice in treatment of paediatric Streptococcal Pharyngitis"). The information obtained regarding treatment practice is<p><p>combined with costing information, from previously published sources, and integrated into a decision tree simulation model.

<p><p><p>Given a range of assumptions and limitations to the exercise, the paper presents a cost-minimisation analysis of the task of<p><p>`curing' a patient presenting with Streptococcal Pharyngitis. In General Practice terms, this is seen as having been achieved if a patient does not present again in the same episode of illness. For the `typical' patient it was found that treatment costs could be reduced, although in most cases not substantially, by switching from GPs' favoured treatment pattern ,Penicillin V as first line drug with Erythromycin as back-up, to a revised pattern where Azithromycin was used as the back-up prescription. The value of using Azithromycin as an alternative more effective first line prescription was also assessed and shown not to be a cost effective option.