Food allergy knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of primary care physicians.
Pediatrics. 2010 Jan;125(1):126-32
Authors: Gupta RS, Springston EE, Kim JS, Smith B, Pongracic JA, Wang X, Holl J
OBJECTIVE: To provide insight into food allergy knowledge and perceptions among pediatricians and family physicians in the United States. METHODS: A national sample of pediatricians and family physicians was recruited between April and July 2008 to complete the validated, Web-based Chicago Food Allergy Research Survey for Primary Care Physicians. Findings were analyzed to provide composite/itemized knowledge scores, describe attitudes and beliefs, and examine the effects of participant characteristics on response. RESULTS: The sample included 407 primary care physicians; 99% of the respondents reported providing care for food-allergic patients. Participants answered 61% of knowledge-based items correctly. Strengths and weaknesses were identified in each content domain evaluated by the survey. For example, 80% of physicians surveyed knew that the flu vaccine is unsafe for egg-allergic children, 90% recognized that the number of food-allergic children is increasing in the United States, and 80% were aware that there is no cure for food allergy. However, only 24% knew that oral food challenges may be used in the diagnosis of food allergy, 12% correctly rejected that chronic nasal problems are not symptom of food allergy, and 23% recognized that yogurts/cheeses from milk are unsafe for children with immunoglobulin E-mediated milk allergies. Fewer than 30% of the participants felt comfortable interpreting laboratory tests to diagnose food allergy or felt adequately prepared by their medical training to care for food-allergic children. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of food allergy among primary care physicians was fair. Opportunities for improvement exist, as acknowledged by participants’ own perceptions of their clinical abilities in the management of food allergy.
PMID: 19969619 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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Adoption of rotavirus vaccination by pediatricians and family medicine physicians in the United States.
Pediatrics. 2009 Nov;124(5):e809-16
Authors: Kempe A, Patel MM, Daley MF, Crane LA, Beaty B, Stokley S, Barrow J, Babbel C, Dickinson LM, Tempte JL, Parashar UD
OBJECTIVES: The goals were to assess, among pediatricians and family medicine physicians, (1) rates of offering the vaccine in their office; (2) knowledge of Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommendations; (3) barriers to use; and (4) factors associated with offering the vaccine. METHODS: Surveys of pediatricians and family medicine physicians were conducted in August to October 2007. RESULTS: Response rates were 84% for pediatricians and 79% for family medicine physicians (N = 623). Proportions routinely offering the vaccine were 85% of pediatricians and 45% of family medicine physicians (P < .0001); 70% of pediatricians and 22% of family medicine strongly recommended the vaccine (P < .0001). Sixty-two percent of pediatricians and 32% of family medicine physicians (P < .0001) knew the age by which all 3 doses should be completed. Definite barriers to vaccine use included reported lack of coverage by insurance companies (family medicine physicians: 22%; pediatricians: 19%; not significant), costs of purchasing vaccine (family medicine physicians: 22%; pediatricians: 17%; not significant), lack of adequate reimbursement (family medicine physicians: 18%; pediatricians: 15%; not significant), concerns about safety (family medicine physicians: 25%; pediatricians: 9%; P < .0001), and concerns about adding another vaccine to the schedule (family medicine physicians: 22%; pediatricians: 5%; P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: Rates of offering the new rotavirus vaccine are high among pediatricians but <50% among family medicine physicians. Both specialties identified financial barriers to use of the vaccine, but family medicine physicians had significantly more concerns about safety and about adding another vaccine to the vaccination schedule.
PMID: 19822592 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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Health behaviors and quality of life of cancer survivors in massachusetts, 2006: data use for comprehensive cancer control.
Prev Chronic Dis. 2010 Jan;7(1):A09
Authors: Fairley TL, Hawk H, Pierre S
INTRODUCTION: Nearly 12 million cancer survivors are living in the United States. Few state-based studies have examined the health status and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of this growing population. The objective of this study was to use Massachusetts Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data to describe cancer survivors’ demographics, health behaviors, quality of life, use of preventive care services, and influenza vaccination rates. METHODS: The demographic characteristics of cancer survivors and respondents without cancer were estimated on the basis of responses to questions in the 2006 Massachusetts BRFSS. We used multivariate logistic regression to compare health behaviors, comorbidities, quality of life, and cancer screening and influenza vaccination rates for cancer survivors compared with respondents who did not have cancer. RESULTS:Cancer survivors and respondents who did not have cancer had similar rates of health behavioral risk factors including smoking, obesity, and physical activity. Rates of chronic disease (eg, heart disease, asthma) and disability were higher among cancer survivors. Cancer survivors reported higher rates of influenza vaccination and breast, colorectal, and cervical cancer screening than did respondents who did not have cancer. Survivors’ self-reported health status and HRQOL (physical and mental health) improved as length of survivorship increased.CONCLUSION: This state-based survey allowed Massachusetts to assess health-related issues for resident cancer survivors. These findings will help state-based public health planners develop interventions to address the long-term physical and psychosocial consequences of cancer diagnosis and treatment.
PMID: 20040224 [PubMed - in process]
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Health behaviors and quality of life of cancer survivors in massachusetts, 2006: data use for comprehensive cancer control.
