Guatemala Internal Medicine Physicians' Knowledge of Non-communicable Disease Clinical Preventive Services

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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A national cross-sectional survey was conducted to evaluate recommendations on clinical preventive services and additional information on non-communicable disease prevention. Trained surveyors interviewed interns, residents and attendings of the Internal Medicine departments of all teaching hospitals in Guatemala. Analysis compared recommendation practices within and between hospitals.

Detailed Description
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A voluntary, anonymous, self-completed, cross-sectional survey was administered to all available internal medicine staff in Guatemalan teaching hospitals. The questionnaire included: physician's demographics, work time dedicated to outpatients, knowledge of leading causes of death in Guatemala, guidelines used for non-communicable disease prevention, simulated cases asking for recommendation(s) on different preventive services for asymptomatic adults (i.e. whether they recommended them or not, appropriate frequency and starting age, preferred screening method, and availability of the service(s) at their hospital). The survey also assessed barriers faced in providing adequate services, and opinions on who should implement changes in national health care and in medical education. The answers given by the internal medicine staff were compared with the United States Preventive Services Task Forces (USPSTF) Recommendations and Guatemalan Ministry of Health Guidelines. Analysis compared recommendation practices within and between hospitals.

Official Title
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Knowledge and Recommendations on Tobacco Cessation and Other Preventive Interventions Among Internal Medicine Staff in Guatemala Teaching Hospitals

Conditions
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Non-communicable Diseases

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: All interns, internal medicine residents and attendings (including department director, unit directors and regular attendings) that are currently training or working in an Internal Medicine department in any of the ten teaching hospitals in Guatemala. Exclusion Criteria: Staff that is on vacations, on sick leave or suspended by any reason.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Internal Medicine Staff<br>All interns, residents and attendings training (or working) at an Internal Medicine department of a Guatemalan teaching hospital. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Recommendations of clinical preventive services for non-communicable diseases. | Recommendations on eleven clinical preventive services for non-communicable diseases were evaluated considering: Whether they recommended them or not Appropriate frequency and starting age Preferred screening method Availability of the service(s) at their hospital | After accepting to participate in the study, participants will be followed the time necesary to complete the structured questionnaire, an average of 1 hour. | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Barriers faced in providing adequate services. | Self-perceived barriers to provide clinical preventive services adequately. | After accepting to participate in the study, participants will be followed the time necesary to complete the structured questionnaire, an average of 1 hour. | 
| Opinion on who should implement changes in clinical preventive services provision. | Participant's opinion on who should be responsible to implement changes in: Chronic disease prevention in national health care Medical education in this field. | After accepting to participate in the study, participants will be followed the time necesary to complete the structured questionnaire, an average of 1 hour. | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Non-communicable diseases, Preventive services, Medical education, Guatemala