title: Management of Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency at Peking Union Medical College Hospital: A Survey among Physicians.
abstract: <strong>Objective</strong> To evaluate physicians' attitude and knowledge about the management of adult growth hormone deficiency (AGHD) at Peking Union Medical College Hospital and impact factors associated with better decision-making.<strong>Methods</strong> A 21-question anonymous survey was distributed and collected at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, a major teaching hospital in Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Data of physicians' educational background, clinical training, patient workload per year and continuing medical education in AGHD were collected. Factors associated with appropriate answers were further analyzed by multivariate regression models.<strong>Results</strong> One hundred and eighteen internal medicine residents, endocrine fellows, attending physicians and visiting physicians responded to the survey. Among them, 44.9% thought that AGHD patients should accept recombinant human growth hormone replacement therapy. Moreover, 56.8% selected insulin tolerance test and growth hormone-releasing hormone-arginine test for the diagnosis of AGHD. Logistic regression analysis of physician demographic data, educational background, and work experience found no consistent independent factors associated with better decision-making, other than continued medical education, that were associated with treatment choice.<strong>Conclusions</strong> The physicians' reported management of AGHD in this major academic healthcare center in Beijing was inconsistent with current evidence. High quality continued medical education is required to improve Chinese physician management of AGHD.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Endocrinology,Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China.
authors.forename: Hong-Bo
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: 2Department of Pediatrics, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China.
authors.forename: Meng-Qi
authors.initials: MQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Endocrinology,Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Endocrinology,Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China.
authors.forename: Hui-Juan
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000172:deficiency*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D019382:Human Growth Hormone