Ofer Havakuk1, Michal Laufer Perl2, Ofir Praisler1, Michael Barkagan1, Ben Sadeh1, Gilad Margolis1, Maayan Konigstein1, Lilly Veltman Fuks3, Gad Keren1, Ehud Chorin1, Yaron Arbel1. 1. Department of Cardiology, Tel Aviv Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Affiliated to Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel. 2. Department of Cardiology, Tel Aviv Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Affiliated to Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel. Electronic address: michalpela@gmail.com. 3. Department of Internal Medicine "E", Tel Aviv Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Affiliated to Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) was shown to be related to a variety of diseases. High level of vigilance for the diagnosis of MetS is expected among health providers. We evaluated the level of awareness to MetS among physician and nurses working in a central hospital. METHODS AND RESULTS: A specially designed anonymous questionnaire was used, including both open and multiple choice questions set to evaluate the participant's awareness to MetS. The study included 126 participants, 71% physicians and 29% nurses. Mean age was 36.2±3.8 years. Among physicians, 68.5% were residents and 45.5% were internists. 98% of the participants stated that they were familiar with the term MetS and that they treat MetS patients regularly. Most participants knew the correct number of criteria included in MetS definition and the number of criteria needed for MetS diagnosis (84% and 90%, respectively). However, only 12% were able to discriminate correctly all MetS cases from non-MetS ones. Physicians performed better than nurses (15.6% and 3.1%, respectively, P=0.003). Neither, field of practice nor seniority was found to have a significant influence on the results. The frequency of recommendation for MetS risk factor modulation in the discharge files was also analyzed. Such recommendations were scarcely given, with cardiology department being the exception (80% of discharge files from cardiology department compared with less than 20% in other departments). CONCLUSION: Though hospital workers showed high level of awareness to the existence of MetS, they failed to differentiate correctly MetS cases from non-MetS ones.
BACKGROUND:Metabolic syndrome (MetS) was shown to be related to a variety of diseases. High level of vigilance for the diagnosis of MetS is expected among health providers. We evaluated the level of awareness to MetS among physician and nurses working in a central hospital. METHODS AND RESULTS: A specially designed anonymous questionnaire was used, including both open and multiple choice questions set to evaluate the participant's awareness to MetS. The study included 126 participants, 71% physicians and 29% nurses. Mean age was 36.2±3.8 years. Among physicians, 68.5% were residents and 45.5% were internists. 98% of the participants stated that they were familiar with the term MetS and that they treat MetS patients regularly. Most participants knew the correct number of criteria included in MetS definition and the number of criteria needed for MetS diagnosis (84% and 90%, respectively). However, only 12% were able to discriminate correctly all MetS cases from non-MetS ones. Physicians performed better than nurses (15.6% and 3.1%, respectively, P=0.003). Neither, field of practice nor seniority was found to have a significant influence on the results. The frequency of recommendation for MetS risk factor modulation in the discharge files was also analyzed. Such recommendations were scarcely given, with cardiology department being the exception (80% of discharge files from cardiology department compared with less than 20% in other departments). CONCLUSION: Though hospital workers showed high level of awareness to the existence of MetS, they failed to differentiate correctly MetS cases from non-MetS ones.
Authors: Abeer S Alshuniefi; Nasser K Aljuhani; Abrar H Allafi; Mashael S Alruwayshid; Enas F Alaraik; Fatmah Alreshidi; Ebtehaj S Almughais Journal: J Family Med Prim Care Date: 2021-07-30