title: Low awareness but positive attitudes toward fecal transplantation in Ontario physicians.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite mounting evidence supporting fecal transplantation (FT) as a treatment for recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), adoption into clinical practice has been slow.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the health literacy and attitudes of academic physicians in Toronto and infectious disease physicians in Ontario toward FT as a treatment for recurrent CDI, and to determine whether these are significant barriers to adoption.
  
  
  METHODS
  Surveys were distributed to 253 general internists, infectious diseases specialists, gastroenterologists and family physicians.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was 15%. More than 60% of physicians described themselves as being 'not at all' or 'somewhat' familiar with FT. Of the 76% of physicians who had never referred a patient for FT, the most common reason (50%) was lack of awareness of where to access the treatment. The 'ick factor' accounted for only 13% of reasons for not referring. No respondent believed that the procedure was too risky to consider.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite general poor health literacy on FT, most physicians sampled share similar positive attitudes toward the treatment.
authors: Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto;
authors: Madison
authors: M
authors: Dennis
authors: Department of Infection Prevention and Control, University Health Network;
authors: Mary Jane
authors: MJ
authors: Salpeter
authors: Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto; ; Department of Infection Prevention and Control, University Health Network; ; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario.
authors: Susy
authors: S
authors: Hota
keywords: Fecal transplantation; Physician attitudes; Physician health literacy; Recurrent Clostridium difficile infection