Skip to main content

Main menu

  • HOME
  • ARTICLES
    • Current Issue
    • Ahead of Print
    • Archives
    • Abstracts In Press
    • Special Issue Archive
    • Subject Collections
  • INFO FOR
    • Authors
    • Reviewers
    • Call For Papers
    • Subscribers
    • Advertisers
  • SUBMIT
    • Manuscript
    • Peer Review
  • ABOUT
    • The JABFM
    • The Editing Fellowship
    • Editorial Board
    • Indexing
    • Editors' Blog
  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • Other Publications
    • abfm

User menu

Search

  • Advanced search
American Board of Family Medicine
  • Other Publications
    • abfm
American Board of Family Medicine

American Board of Family Medicine

Advanced Search

  • HOME
  • ARTICLES
    • Current Issue
    • Ahead of Print
    • Archives
    • Abstracts In Press
    • Special Issue Archive
    • Subject Collections
  • INFO FOR
    • Authors
    • Reviewers
    • Call For Papers
    • Subscribers
    • Advertisers
  • SUBMIT
    • Manuscript
    • Peer Review
  • ABOUT
    • The JABFM
    • The Editing Fellowship
    • Editorial Board
    • Indexing
    • Editors' Blog
  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • JABFM on Bluesky
  • JABFM On Facebook
  • JABFM On Twitter
  • JABFM On YouTube
Research ArticleOriginal Article

How Family Physicians Distinguish Acute Sinusitis From Upper Respiratory Tract Infection: A Retrospective Analysis

David R. Little, Barbara L. Mann and Christopher J. Godbout
The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice March 2000, 13 (2) 101-106; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3122/15572625-13-2-101
David R. Little
From the Department of Family Medicine (DRL, ELM, CJG), Wright State University School of Medicine, Dayton, Ohio.
MD, MS
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Barbara L. Mann
From the Department of Family Medicine (DRL, ELM, CJG), Wright State University School of Medicine, Dayton, Ohio.
PhD
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Christopher J. Godbout
From the Department of Family Medicine (DRL, ELM, CJG), Wright State University School of Medicine, Dayton, Ohio.
MD
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • Article
  • References
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF
Loading

Abstract

Background: The purpose of our study was to examine how physicians diagnose sinusitis in practice. We addressed three specific questions: (1) what clinical factors do physicians look for in evaluating and caring for patients with suspected sinusitis, (2) to what extent do physicians use transillumination and radiograph evaluations in diagnosing sinusitis, and (3) how does the diagnosis of sinusitis influence the decision to prescribe antibiotic therapy?

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review using charts from 25 local family physicians who volunteered to participate in the study. After selecting a random sample of charts of adult patients treated for sinusitis and for upper respiratory tract infection (URI) by each physician, we reviewed the charts to determine the nature of the information collected to differentiate between sinusitis and URI.

Results: Rhinorrhea, sinus tenderness, visualization of purulent secretions, and a history of sinusitis were significant predictors of the diagnosis of sinusitis. Antibiotics were prescribed for 98.4% of patients with sinusitis and 13.1% of patients with URI.

Conclusions: This sample of physicians based the diagnosis of sinusitis on three prominent clinical findings, which were also significant factors in diagnosing sinusitis in previous studies. The history of sinusitis might influence patient and physician expectations for the diagnosis.

PreviousNext
Back to top

In this issue

The Journal of the American Board of Family     Practice: 13 (2)
The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice
Vol. 13, Issue 2
1 Mar 2000
  • Table of Contents
  • Table of Contents (PDF)
  • Index by author
  • Back Matter (PDF)
  • Front Matter (PDF)
Download PDF
Article Alerts
Sign In to Email Alerts with your Email Address
Email Article

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on American Board of Family Medicine.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
How Family Physicians Distinguish Acute Sinusitis From Upper Respiratory Tract Infection: A Retrospective Analysis
(Your Name) has sent you a message from American Board of Family Medicine
(Your Name) thought you would like to see the American Board of Family Medicine web site.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
12 + 3 =
Solve this simple math problem and enter the result. E.g. for 1+3, enter 4.
Citation Tools
How Family Physicians Distinguish Acute Sinusitis From Upper Respiratory Tract Infection: A Retrospective Analysis
David R. Little, Barbara L. Mann, Christopher J. Godbout
The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice Mar 2000, 13 (2) 101-106; DOI: 10.3122/15572625-13-2-101

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
Share
How Family Physicians Distinguish Acute Sinusitis From Upper Respiratory Tract Infection: A Retrospective Analysis
David R. Little, Barbara L. Mann, Christopher J. Godbout
The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice Mar 2000, 13 (2) 101-106; DOI: 10.3122/15572625-13-2-101
Twitter logo Facebook logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One

Jump to section

  • Article
  • References
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF

Related Articles

  • No related articles found.
  • PubMed
  • Google Scholar

Cited By...

  • No citing articles found.
  • Google Scholar

More in this TOC Section

  • Screening for Dementia: Family Caregiver Questionnaires Reliably Predict Dementia
  • Help-Seeking for Insomnia among Adult Patients in Primary Care
  • How Much Time Do Patients with Diabetes Spend on Self-Care?
Show more Original Articles

Similar Articles

Navigate

  • Home
  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues

Authors & Reviewers

  • Info For Authors
  • Info For Reviewers
  • Submit A Manuscript/Review

Other Services

  • Get Email Alerts
  • Classifieds
  • Reprints and Permissions

Other Resources

  • Forms
  • Contact Us
  • ABFM News

© 2025 American Board of Family Medicine

Powered by HighWire