Autoevaluación de fortalezas, debilidades y confianza de los médicos de atención primaria en el abordaje de enfermedades reumatológicas

Background: Rheumatologic diseases are common and frequently managed by primary care physicians. Aim: To assess strengths, weaknesses and self confidence of primary care physicians in the management of rheumatic diseases. Material and methods: A self assessment and anonymous questionnaire was mailed to primary care physicians of two Chilean regions. Using a 10 points Likert scale, they were asked about personal interest, undergraduate training, continuous medical education, availability of medical literature, complementary laboratory tests and consultation with a rheumatologist. Medical skills, knowledge, therapeutic approach and performance of rheumatologic procedures were evaluated under the item confidence. Results: Three hundred forty seven out of 763 physicians (45%) answered the questionnaire. Their age range extended from 25 to 75 years, 59% were male, 58% were Chilean and 74% worked in the Metropolitan region. The worst evaluated parameters were availability of literature with a score of 2.2±2, access to consultation with a rheumatologist (3.8±2.2) and to continuous medical education (4.3±2.7). Physicians had a better confidence in their knowledge (6.7±1.5) and in their therapeutic approach (6.1±1.5). The worst confidence score was for shoulder injection therapy (3.4±2.6). Continuous medical education correlated with knowledge but not with clinical skills. Conclusions: Primary care physicians perform a bad assessment of their skills in rheumatology. They have a low level of confidence in their clinical skills to perform rheumatologic procedures. Continuous medical education improves confidence in knowledge but not in skills

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Pacheco R,Daniel, Gatica R,Héctor, Kaliski K,Sonia
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	Spanish / Castilian
Published:	Sociedad Médica de Santiago 2006
Online Access:	http://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0034-98872006000700002
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