title: Doctors' awareness concerning primary immunodeficiencies in Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  PIDs are a heterogeneous group of genetic illnesses, and delay in their diagnosis is thought to be caused by a lack of awareness among physicians concerning PIDs. The latter is what we aimed to evaluate in Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  Physicians working at general hospitals all over the country were asked to complete a 14-item questionnaire. One of the questions described 25 clinical situations that could be associated with PIDs and a score was created based on percentages of appropriate answers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 4026 physicians participated in the study: 1628 paediatricians (40.4%), 1436 clinicians (35.7%), and 962 surgeons (23.9%). About 67% of the physicians had learned about PIDs in medical school or residency training, 84.6% evaluated patients who frequently took antibiotics, but only 40.3% of them participated in the immunological evaluation of these patients. Seventy-seven percent of the participating physicians were not familiar with the warning signs for PIDs. The mean score of correct answers for the 25 clinical situations was 48.08% (±16.06). Only 18.3% of the paediatricians, 7.4% of the clinicians, and 5.8% of the surgeons answered at least 2/3 of these situations appropriately.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a lack of medical awareness concerning PIDs, even among paediatricians, who have been targeted with PID educational programmes in recent years in Brazil. An increase in awareness with regard to these disorders within the medical community is an important step towards improving recognition and treatment of PIDs.
authors: Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Complexo Hospitalar Universitário Professor Edgar Santos - Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil. Electronic address: ellendantas@ig.com.br.
authors: E O
authors: EO
authors: Dantas
authors: Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Complexo Hospitalar Universitário Professor Edgar Santos - Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors: C S
authors: CS
authors: Aranda
authors: Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil; Complexo Hospitalar Universitário Professor Edgar Santos - Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors: A M
authors: AM
authors: Rêgo Silva
authors: University Hospital of Brasília and Children's Hospital of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil; Complexo Hospitalar Universitário Professor Edgar Santos - Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors: F S
authors: FS
authors: Tavares
authors: Albert Sabin Children's Hospital, Fortaleza, Brazil; Complexo Hospitalar Universitário Professor Edgar Santos - Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors: J F
authors: JF
authors: Severo Ferreira
authors: State University of Montes Claros, Montes Claros, Brazil; Complexo Hospitalar Universitário Professor Edgar Santos - Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors: M A
authors: MA
authors: de Quadros Coelho
authors: Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil; Complexo Hospitalar Universitário Professor Edgar Santos - Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors: L C
authors: LC
authors: de Siqueira Kovalhuk
authors: Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil; Complexo Hospitalar Universitário Professor Edgar Santos - Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Roxo Júnior
authors: Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto, Brazil; Complexo Hospitalar Universitário Professor Edgar Santos - Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors: E C
authors: EC
authors: Toledo
authors: University Hospital São Vicente de Paulo, Passo Fundo, Brazil; Complexo Hospitalar Universitário Professor Edgar Santos - Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors: A C
authors: AC
authors: Porto Neto
authors: Joana de Gusmão Children's Hospital, Florianópolis, Brazil; Complexo Hospitalar Universitário Professor Edgar Santos - Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors: H M C
authors: HM
authors: de Sousa Vieira
authors: Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Júlio Muller, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Brazil; Complexo Hospitalar Universitário Professor Edgar Santos - Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors: O A
authors: OA
authors: Takano
authors: Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Complexo Hospitalar Universitário Professor Edgar Santos - Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors: F A
authors: FA
authors: Nobre
authors: Nipo Brasileiro Hospital, São Paulo, Brazil; Complexo Hospitalar Universitário Professor Edgar Santos - Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Sano
authors: Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil; Complexo Hospitalar Universitário Professor Edgar Santos - Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Nudelman
authors: Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil; Complexo Hospitalar Universitário Professor Edgar Santos - Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors: V S
authors: VS
authors: de Farias Sales
authors: Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Brazil; Complexo Hospitalar Universitário Professor Edgar Santos - Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors: G R
authors: GR
authors: Silva Segundo
authors: State University of Piauí, Teresina, Brazil; Complexo Hospitalar Universitário Professor Edgar Santos - Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors: H T
authors: HT
authors: Villar Guedes
authors: Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Complexo Hospitalar Universitário Professor Edgar Santos - Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Félix
authors: State University of Piauí, Teresina, Brazil; Complexo Hospitalar Universitário Professor Edgar Santos - Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors: S M B
authors: SM
authors: Marques
authors: Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Complexo Hospitalar Universitário Professor Edgar Santos - Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors: J T L
authors: JT
authors: Mazzucchelli
authors: Faculty of Medicine of ABC, Santo André, Brazil; Complexo Hospitalar Universitário Professor Edgar Santos - Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors: N F
authors: NF
authors: Wandalsen
authors: Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil; Complexo Hospitalar Universitário Professor Edgar Santos - Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors: J A
authors: JA
authors: Pinto
authors: University Center of Pará, Belém, Brazil; Complexo Hospitalar Universitário Professor Edgar Santos - Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors: I C D
authors: IC
authors: Paes Barreto
authors: Pediatrics Department, Medicine Course of Lusiada University Center (UNILUS), Santos, Brazil; Complexo Hospitalar Universitário Professor Edgar Santos - Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors: M R
authors: MR
authors: Silva
authors: Pediatrics Department, Medicine Course of Lusiada University Center (UNILUS), Santos, Brazil; Complexo Hospitalar Universitário Professor Edgar Santos - Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors: V E V
authors: VE
authors: Rullo
authors: Federal University of Sergipe, Aracajú, Brazil; Complexo Hospitalar Universitário Professor Edgar Santos - Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors: J M
authors: JM
authors: Franco
authors: Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Complexo Hospitalar Universitário Professor Edgar Santos - Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Damasceno
authors: Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil; Complexo Hospitalar Universitário Professor Edgar Santos - Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Fahl
authors: Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Complexo Hospitalar Universitário Professor Edgar Santos - Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors: M I
authors: MI
authors: de Moraes-Pinto
authors: Hospital do Servidor Público Municipal, São Paulo, Brazil; Complexo Hospitalar Universitário Professor Edgar Santos - Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors: D L
authors: DL
authors: Del Nero
authors: Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Júlio Muller, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Brazil; Complexo Hospitalar Universitário Professor Edgar Santos - Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors: L S L
authors: LS
authors: Moraes
authors: Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil; Complexo Hospitalar Universitário Professor Edgar Santos - Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Condino-Neto
authors: Pediatrics Department, University of Campinas Medical School, Campinas, Brazil; Complexo Hospitalar Universitário Professor Edgar Santos - Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors: M M
authors: MM
authors: Vilela
authors: Private office, Macapá, Brazil; Complexo Hospitalar Universitário Professor Edgar Santos - Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Góes
authors: Hospital Ministro Costa Cavalcanti, Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil; Complexo Hospitalar Universitário Professor Edgar Santos - Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors: K L
authors: KL
authors: Schisler
authors: Children's Hospital Cosme e Damião, Rondônia, Brazil; Complexo Hospitalar Universitário Professor Edgar Santos - Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Miranda
authors: Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Complexo Hospitalar Universitário Professor Edgar Santos - Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors: E S
authors: ES
authors: Goudouris
authors: Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Complexo Hospitalar Universitário Professor Edgar Santos - Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors: B T
authors: BT
authors: Costa Carvalho
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D013502:General Surgery; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007388:Internal Medicine; D010372:Pediatrics; D010819:Physician's Role; D010820:Physicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011364:Professional Practice; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Attitudes; Health knowledge; Immunological deficiency syndromes; Physicians; Practice; Questionnaires