title: [Knowledge of physicians and obstetric nurses about the prevention of neural tube defects].
abstract: The scope of this study was to evaluate the knowledge of obstetricians and obstetric nurses about folic acid in the prevention of neural tube defects (NTD). A cross-sectional study was conducted in which 118 volunteers (95 physicians and 23 nurses) answered a questionnaire with 21 questions about prevention of NTD. The data were analyzed according to the reported knowledge, the recommendations made by the Brazilian Ministry of Health (MOH) and the scientific evidence (SE) available in the literature on the topic. The knowledge based on the SE and recommendations of MOH was different (4.64 ± 0.20 vs. 5.55 ± 0.15, p <0.001, Mean ± SEM). There was no difference between the knowledge of respondents compared to their training, the time spent in prenatal care and between the two classes of professionals evaluated. There were differences between the reported knowledge and that based on SE (6.76 ± 0.18 vs. 4.64 ± 0.15, p <0.001) and based on the MOH recommendations (6.76 ± 0.18 vs. 5.55 ± 0.20, p <0.001). Thus, the conclusion reached was that 94.1% of those evaluated reported knowing the importance of folic acid in preventing NTD, though 64.2% reported that they did not know when to begin administration of the supplement.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas e da Saúde de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo Campelo da
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Conceição
authors.forename: Marcella Amaral Horta
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.forename: Leonardo Lima
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Dornela
authors.forename: Plínio Santos
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Didier Silveira
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Castellano Filho
authors.forename: Djalma Rabelo
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Ricardo
authors.forename: Adriano Almeida
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Calado
authors.forename: José Murillo Bastos
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Netto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009726:Nurses; D010820:Physicians; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D005492:Folic Acid