KNOWLEDGE OF CARDIOLOGISTS RELATED TO PROPHYLAXIS OF RHEUMATIC FEVER IN SALVADOR- BA

Abstract

Objective: Describe and analyze the knowledge of cardiologists on the prophylaxis of Rheumatic Fever (RF). Method: Application of questionnaire to cardiologists and cardiology residents March/2012 to December/2014. Results: The questionnaire was answered by 52 cardiologists 37 (71.8 %) specialists and 15 (28.9 %) cardiology residents. The average time for the formation of the group was 19.28 (±10.16) years, 39 (75 %) work in outpatient SUS, 34 (65%) in private practice. Of these 26 (50%) reported not having followed any cases of acute RF in the last year and 9 (17.3%) said they had not accompanied chronic RF cases last year. Among the 35 respondents (67.3%) report that they attended to most cases in the past and 37 (71.2 %) believe that there has been a decline in the disease. Although the majority, 47 (90.4 %) have knowledge about the last guideline of treatment and diagnosis of RF, the accuracy rate of all therapeutic options used in primary prophylaxis of these patients was 5 (9.6%) and secondary 7 (13.4 %), however 49 (94.2 %) made reference to benzathine penicillin as an option. Conclusions: The current study identified that, although RF is still an important clinical condition in our environment, the physicians interviewed did not show adequate knowledge on the subject, which could be related to poor patient adherence to RF prophylaxis. Greater attention should be devoted to continuing education on RF, which is a disease often neglected.