Study of the extent of the information of cardiologists from São Paulo city, Brazil, regarding a low-prevalence entity: Brugada syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the degree of knowledge that cardiologists from São Paulo, Brazil, have regarding a low-prevalent entity associated with a high rate of sudden death-Brugada syndrome.


METHODS
Two hundred forty-four cardiologists were interviewed by an instrument divided in two parts: in the first, we recorded gender, age, and data related to academic profile. The second--answered only by the professionals that manifested having some degree of knowledge on the syndrome--had 28 questions that evaluated their knowledge. The answers were spontaneous and they did not have a chance to consult. We used uni- and multivariate analysis on the average percentage of right and wrong answers, and the influence of the academic profile.


RESULTS
The predominant gender was the male gender (61.1%), the average age was 44.32 +/- 10.83 years, 40% with more than 20 years after obtaining their degree, 44% were educated in public institutions, 69% had a residency in cardiology, 20% had overseas practice, 12% had postdegree, 41% were linked to an educational institution, 24% with publication(s) in an indexed journal, 17.2% were authors of chapters in books, 2.5% had edited books, and 10% were linked to the Brazilian Society of Cardiac Arrhythmias. The average percentage of right answers was 45.7%.


CONCLUSIONS
The sample studied revealed a little knowledge on the entity. A residency in cardiology was the factor of greater significance in the percentage of right answers. Other significant factors were the link of the interviewed person to an educational institution, or the Brazilian Society of Cardiac Arrhythmias, and having a specialist degree.
Pérez Riera
Andrés Ricardo
AR
Discipline of Cardiology, ABC Foundation, ABC School of Medicine (FUABC), Santo André, São Paulo, Brazil. riera@uol.com.br
Filho
Celso F
CF
Uchida
Augusto H
AH
Zhang
Li
L
Antzelevitch
Charles
C
Schapachnik
Edgardo
E
Dubner
Sergio
S
Ferreira
Celso
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D053840:Brugada Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D002309:Cardiology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires