Article Category:
Research Article

Knowledge about Chagas Disease among Family and Community Medicine Residents in a Non-Endemic Region: A Cross-Sectional Study

José-Manuel Ramos-Rincón Clinical Medicine Department, Miguel Hernández University of Elche, Alicante, Spain;

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José-Joaquín Mira-Solves Health Psychology Department, Miguel Hernández University of Elche, Alicante, Spain;

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Patricia Crespo-Mateos Multiprofessional Teaching Unit for Alicante Family and Community Medicine, Alicante, Spain;

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Milagros Oyarzabal Multiprofessional Teaching Unit for Alicante Family and Community Medicine, Alicante, Spain;

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Clara-Isabel Pérez-Ortiz Multiprofessional Teaching Unit for Alicante Family and Community Medicine, Alicante, Spain;

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Violeta Ramos-Sesma Internal Medicine Department, Hospital HLA Inmaculada, Granada, Spain;

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Miriam Navarro Unit of Epidemiology, Public Health Centre of Elche, Alicante, Spain;
Public Health, Science History and Gynecology Department, Miguel Hernández University of Elche, Alicante, Spain

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.22-0081
Volume/Issue:
Volume 108: Issue 6
Page(s):
1157–1160
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ABSTRACT.

Chagas disease (CD) is a parasitic disease endemic to continental Latin America that has globalized in recent years. The most relevant mechanisms of transmission of CD in non-endemic countries are transfusion with infected blood and mother-to-child transmission. There is limited information regarding practicing physicians’ knowledge of CD transmission, clinical presentation, and treatment in non-endemic countries, including Spain. Our objective was to analyze the level of knowledge about CD in family and community medicine residents and how it has evolved over the last 5 years. A cross-sectional study was performed in the framework of the training program for family and community medicine specialists in Alicante, Spain. Convenience sampling was used to enroll 214 fourth-year family and community medicine residents from 2016 to 2020. Participants completed the validated Chagas Level of Knowledge Scale questionnaire prior to attending the seminar “Health Care for the Immigrant Population.” The mean score on the scale was 7.1/10 points. Only 12 participants (5.6%) answered all questions correctly. Resident physicians who reported having received prior information on CD scored better than those who were not informed (mean, 7.2 versus 6.1 points). Participants from Latin America had scores similar to those of the rest of the participants. Over the 5-year study period, questionnaire scores tended to increase. Knowledge about CD among family and community medicine residents has improved in recent years, although it is still not optimal. Specific training on CD during specialized health care training is warranted.

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Author Notes

Address correspondence to Miriam Navarro, Epidemiology Unit, Public Health Center of Elche, C/ Antonio Mora Ferrández 51, Elche 03202, Alicante, Spain. E-mail: navarro_mirbel@gva.es

Authors’ addresses: José-Manuel Ramos-Rincón, Clinical Medicine Department, Miguel Hernández University of Elche, Alicante, Spain, E-mail: jose.ramosr@umh.es. José-Joaquín Mira-Solves, Health Psychology Department, Miguel Hernández University of Elche, Alicante, Spain, E-mail: jose.mira@umh.es. Patricia Crespo-Mateos, Milagros Oyarzabal, and Clara-Isabel Pérez-Ortiz, Multiprofessional Teaching Unit for Alicante Family and Community Medicine, Alicante, Spain, E-mails: anapatriciacrespo@gmail.com, oyarzabal_mil@gva.es, and udalicante@gva.es. Violeta Ramos-Sesma, Internal Medicine Department, Hospital HLA Inmaculada, Granada, Spain, E-mail: vramossesma@gmail.com. Miriam Navarro, Unit of Epidemiology, Public Health Centre of Elche, Alicante, Spain, and Public Health, Science History and Gynecology Department, Miguel Hernández University of Elche, Alicante, Spain, E-mail: navarro_mirbel@gva.es.

Copyright:
© The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 2023
Received:
27 Jan 2022
|
Accepted:
10 Feb 2023
|
Published Online:
09 May 2023
Cover The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Print ISSN:
0002-9637
Online ISSN:
1476-1645
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