Practice and knowledge about diagnosis and treatment of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency in Spain and Portugal

Background Determining physicians' awareness about alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency (AATD) may help to explain the discrepancy between the observed and expected number of patients diagnosed with this disease. This study was designed to assess the opinions on knowledge, practice pattern and...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BMC pulmonary medicine 2016-04, Vol.16 (64), Article 64
Main Authors: Esquinas, Cristina, Barrecheguren, Miriam, Sucena, Maria, Rodriguez, Esther, Fernandez, Sandra, Miravitlles, Marc
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Complications and side effects
Diagnosis
Diagnòstic
Errors congènits del metabolisme
Espanya
Genetic diseases
Inborn errors of metabolism
Internal medicine
Laboratories
Liver
Liver diseases
Lung diseases, Obstructive
Malalties hereditàries
Medical diagnosis
Medical protocols
Portugal
Protocols clínics
Pulmonology
Questionnaires
Risk factors
Spain
Standard deviation
Statistical analysis
Studies
Thoracic surgery
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Summary:Background Determining physicians' awareness about alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency (AATD) may help to explain the discrepancy between the observed and expected number of patients diagnosed with this disease. This study was designed to assess the opinions on knowledge, practice pattern and attitude regarding AATD among physicians in Spain and Portugal. Methods An online anonymous survey was performed on pulmonologists (n = 100), internal medicine specialists (IMS) (n = 100) and primary care physicians (PCP) (n = 176). Of the total number of physicians, 221 were from Spain, and 155 were from Portugal. Physicians answered 21 questions related to their personal and professional profile, knowledge regarding AATD and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), performance and attitude about AATD, and use of augmentation therapy. Responses were ranked on a 4-point scale indicating the level of agreement. In addition, some of the responses were rated as either "low" or "high" indicating the level of knowledge the respondent felt he/she possessed. Results Only 14 % of physicians reported to "know very well" about AATD (3.3 [SD 0.6] for pulmonologists vs. 2.64 [SD 0.60] for IMS and 2.48 [SD 0.71] for PCP; p < 0.001). Only 45.2 % of physicians correctly answered "
ISSN:1471-2466
1471-2466
DOI:10.1186/s12890-016-0222-4