Objective: To assess expert perspectives on the use of rabeprazole in the management of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in routine clinical practice in Indian settings.
Methodology: This cross-sectional study included clinicians involved in the management of GERD across various clinical settings in India, and a 23-item, multiple-response questionnaire was distributed to gather expert opinion on current treatment practices, clinical observations, and experiences related to the use of rabeprazole in routine clinical settings for the management of GERD. Data were analysed by using descriptive statistics.
Results: Out of 403 clinical experts, nearly 89% of them preferred using proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for managing GERD. Approximately 47% of clinicians reported 24-hour intraluminal pH monitoring as the investigation of choice for GERD, while 44% responded that endoscopy was the investigation of choice. A significant majority (88.34%) favoured rabeprazole for its longer action in alleviating nighttime heartburn. About 52% of the experts indicated that rabeprazole offers better efficacy due to its pharmacological benefits, such as not increasing somatostatin levels, maintaining baseline motilin levels, and not delaying gastric emptying. Nearly 46% of respondents preferred an 8-week course of rabeprazole therapy for GERD. Furthermore, a vast majority (92.31%) of clinicians reported no adverse drug reactions with rabeprazole in their clinical practice.
Conclusion: The current survey highlights a strong preference among Indian clinicians for rabeprazole in the management of GERD. Most clinicians reported positive outcomes, particularly in controlling nighttime heartburn and providing overall symptom relief. Additionally, rabeprazole demonstrated good tolerability and minimal adverse reactions. These findings emphasise the effectiveness and acceptability of rabeprazole in clinical practice for the management of GERD.