Impact of an educational campaign by WhatsAppⓇ on hidradenitis suppurativa among the walk-in clinic physicians of a University Hospital
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31053/1853.0605.v77.n4.26508Keywords:
hidradenitis suppurativa, general practitioners, awareness, medical education, WhatsAppⓇAbstract
Background. The limited diffusion about hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) among general practitioners, leads to diagnosis delays.
Objectives. To assess the impact of a short and long-term educational campaign on HS among the walk-in clinic physicians of the Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires (HIBA)
Materials and methods. Quasi-experimental study with an educational intervention by disseminating a piece of information about HS among 142 walk-in clinic physicians of the HIBA. The same anonymous survey on knowledge of the HS was carried out on 3 occasions: baseline, 1 and 9 months after the intervention. The correct answers were compared before, after 1 and 9 months. The survey and the piece of information were sent by WhatsAppⓇ.
Results. Of the total, 64 (45%) answered in the first stage, 48 (34%) in the second stage and 56 (39%) in the third stage. In the baseline survey, only half knew the inflammatory nature of the disease, 3 out of 5 physicians chose an inadequate antibiotic scheme, the surgery mostly indicated was drainage, only a fifth considered ultrasound useful, and a third did not believe that the patient could benefit from referral to a dermatologist. After the educational campaign, we observed a learning in the HS management, which was held at 9 months.
Discussion. We observed a lack of HS training among general practitioners. The WhatsAppⓇ platform could be useful as an educational tool.
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References
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