FungiCAP Survey: Insights Into Physicians' Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices in Antifungal Prescriptions in Colombia

Introduction

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of physicians related to the prescription of antifungals in a Latin American country.

Materials and Methods

A close survey of Colombian physicians' knowledge, attitudes and practices was conducted through an online or paper questionnaire (Fungicap). We performed a descriptive analysis of the main sociodemographic variables, which were related to the respondents' medical practices and the survey results. Moreover, an exploratory analysis of the associations between the knowledge score and sociodemographic characteristics and between the knowledge score and factors concerning medical practice was performed.

Results

A total of 285 physicians participated, with a mean age of 34.6 years, and 57.1% were men. The most frequently participating hospital services were internal medicine (47.7%), intensive care (8%), and geriatrics (4.4%). The average knowledge score was 11.3 (SD 2.1, possible score 0–17). Eighty-seven percent lacked knowledge about the pharmacokinetics, and 61% lacked knowledge about the pharmacodynamics of antifungals. A total of 63.5% had poor knowledge about the antifungal drug of choice according to the type of disease. A total of 78% thought that undergraduate education was insufficient to prescribe antifungals. There were statistically significant differences between the degree of knowledge and the type of institution in which the doctor worked.

Discussion

There is national and international uncertainty about the prescription of antifungals, including basic knowledge and the appropriate treatment of infections. The survey allowed us to identify some weaknesses in the knowledge of antifungal prescribing among Colombian physicians. Thus, there is a need to strengthen antifungal education for physicians.