Development and validation of an instrument to measure family physicians' clinical aptitude in metabolic syndrome in Mexico.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this work was to measure family physicians' clinical aptitude for the diagnosis and treatment of metabolic syndrome in a representative sample from six Family Medicine Units (UMF) at the Mexican Institute for Social Security (IMSS), in Guadalajara, Jalisco, México.


METHODS
This is a cross-sectional study. A validated and structured instrument was used, with a confidence coefficient (Kuder-Richardson) of 0.95, that was applied to a representative sample of 90 family physicians throughout six UMFs in Guadalajara, between 2003 and 2004. Mann-Whitney's U and Kruskal-Wallis' tests were used to compare two or more groups, and the Perez-Viniegra Test was used to define aptitude development levels.


RESULTS
No statistically significant differences were found in aptitude development between the six family medicine units groups and other comparative groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The generally low level of clinical aptitude, and its indicators, reflects limitations on the part of family physicians at the IMSS in Jalisco to identify and manage metabolic syndrome.
Cabrera-Pivaral
Carlos E
CE
Unidad de Investigación en Epidemiología Clínica, Hospital de Especialidades, Centro Médico Nacional de Occidente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Guadalajara, México. carlos.cabrera@imss.gob.mx
Gutiérrez-Ruvalcaba
Clara Luz
CL
Peralta-Heredia
Irma Concepción
IC
Alonso-Reynoso
Carlos
C
D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019468:Disease Management; D005194:Family Practice / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D015995:Prevalence; D011364:Professional Practice; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012494:Sampling Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires