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Asthma knowledge among internal medicine residents
1Pulmonary Diseases Training Program, San Juan Veterans Affairs Medical Center, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan. ealicea@pol.net
Puerto Rico Health Sciences Journal
|May 27, 1999
Summary
Many internal medicine residents lack sufficient asthma knowledge, with over half failing to achieve a passing score. Enhancing physician education on asthma diagnosis and treatment is crucial to reduce disease morbidity and mortality.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Medical Education
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Asthma prevalence and morbidity have significantly increased.
- 14-15 million Americans are affected by asthma annually, with 5,000 deaths.
- Puerto Rican populations experience disproportionately high asthma rates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the medical knowledge of asthma among residents in Accreditation Council on Graduate Education (ACGME) accredited Internal Medicine programs.
- To identify gaps in physician understanding of asthma diagnosis and treatment.
Main Methods:
- A 27-question survey based on 1993 National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) guidelines was developed.
- The questionnaire assessed knowledge in asthma diagnosis and treatment.
- 90% of 138 internal medicine residents completed the survey.
Main Results:
- 51% of residents scored below 70%, indicating inadequate knowledge.
- Asthma diagnosis scores were below 70% and did not improve with training year.
- Asthma treatment scores improved with training year, but without statistical significance.
Conclusions:
- Reinforcing state-of-the-art asthma education for physicians is imperative.
- Further research is needed to evaluate effective educational strategies for improving asthma knowledge.
- Improved physician knowledge is essential to impact asthma morbidity and mortality.