Evaluation of physicians' awareness of pediatric diseases in iran

Hassan Abolhassani1, Babak Mirminachi2, Maedeh Daryabeigi2

  • 1Research Center for Immunodeficiencies ; Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institute at Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden.

Insights

Physician knowledge of pediatric health issues in Iran showed significant gaps. An educational pediatric program improved scores, especially for general practitioners and those early in their careers.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Medical Education

Background:

  • Physician awareness of pediatric health is crucial for healthcare systems.
  • Little is known about Iranian physicians' knowledge of pediatric health issues.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess and characterize the knowledge of Iranian physicians regarding essential pediatric health problems.
  • To identify areas for improvement in pediatric medical education for physicians.

Main Methods:

  • A questionnaire assessing pediatric knowledge was administered to 104 physicians before and after an educational pediatric program (EPP).
  • Participants included pediatric specialists and general practitioners from state hospitals.

Main Results:

  • Only 37.5% of physicians demonstrated adequate knowledge before the EPP, increasing to 42.3% afterward.
  • General practitioners, physicians with shorter practice durations, and those recently graduated showed significant knowledge score improvements post-EPP.
  • Highest knowledge scores were observed in growth and development, dermatology, urology, and asthma/allergy.

Conclusions:

  • The study identified significant knowledge gaps among Iranian physicians concerning pediatric health issues.
  • Educational interventions like the EPP can effectively enhance physician knowledge in specific pediatric domains.
Abstract

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