[Clinical aptitude to treat late diabetes complications].
BACKGROUND
the lack of medical education is the main factor that contributes to cause late complications in diabetes mellitus (DMC). Our objective was to determine the clinical skills of family physicians to prevent, diagnosis and treat late DMC.


METHODS
a comparative cross-sectional study was made. To know the level of the clinical skill in family physicians treating late DMC. The study was based on a comparison between years of experience and recognition of indicators. An instrument was constructed and validated. It was conformed by three clinical cases and 184 items; the study obtained acceptable rates of reliability through three statistical tests. It was applied to 189 family specialized physicians through a census.


RESULTS
most of the physicians (73.5 %) were located at primary care level. There were statistically significant differences among the four zones of attention (p = 0.0001 Kruskal-Wallis), and among their years of experience (p = 0.0001 Kruskal-Wallis) and among who had or did not have private medical practice (p = 0.05 of Mann-Whitney).


CONCLUSIONS
the clinical aptitude of the family physicians studied is low. The results are reflecting the model of education that predominates.
del Socorro Muro-Lemus
Elvia Magdalena
EM
Investigación educativa, Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital General de Zona 8, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Córdoba, Veracruz, Mexico. magdalena_muro@hotmail.com
Jiménez-Vázquez
María Marcela
MM
D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D005194:Family Practice / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans