ABSTRACT
There are few studies evaluating awareness of Chagas disease among healthcare professionals attending migrants from Latin America or working in Chagas-endemic areas. The objective of this study was to design and validate instruments for assessing knowledge about Chagas disease among healthcare students and residents as well as students and professionals of social and other health science disciplines. Two validated scales have been developed: the 10-item Chagas Level of Knowledge Scale for healthcare professionals (ChaLKS-Medical) and the 8-item ChaLKS-Social&Health for potential aid workers from those fields. Both scales were considered adequate in terms of readability, internal consistency, construct validity, and discriminant validity. The mean number of correct answers on the ChaLKS-Medical among respondents from non-healthcare versus healthcare sectors was 1.80 versus 7.00 (P < 0.001). The scores on the ChaLKS-Social&Health also discriminated between the knowledge levels in these two groups (1.76 versus 6.78, P < 0.001). Knowledge among medical/pharmacy students and residents on the ChaLKS-Medical was acceptable and different (mean: 5.8 and 7.4, respectively; P < 0.001). Respondents' knowledge of Chagas disease was greater in those who had previously received information on the disease; this was true in both respondents from the healthcare sector (mean correct answers, ChaLKS-Medical: 7.2 versus 4.3, P < 0.001) and in potential aid workers (mean correct answers, ChaLKS-Social&Health: 5.1 versus 1.1, P = 0.001). The metric properties of both scales are adequate for their use in supporting aid operations in Chagas-endemic countries or in providing health and social care to migrant populations in non-endemic countries.
Subject(s)
Chagas Disease , Clinical Competence , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Health Personnel , Students , Adult , Factor Analysis, Statistical , Female , Humans , Latin America/ethnology , Male , Pharmacists , Spain , Students, Medical , Students, Pharmacy , Surveys and Questionnaires , Transients and Migrants , Young AdultABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate patient satisfaction with the ValCrònic program, telemedicine devices, and the results of the care received after a 2-year follow-up. DESIGN: Observational, descriptive study based on telephone surveys. SETTING: The autonomous community of Valencia (Spain). PARTICIPANTS: Participants consisted of 410 patients with one or more of the following diseases: hypertension, heart failure, diabetes, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A total of 585 patients were included, of whom 104 left the program (18 due to death) and 71 refused to participate. METHODS: We designed and validated a specific scale. Floor and ceiling effects were considered. Internal consistency was analyzed using Cronbach's alpha. RESULTS: Responses were obtained from 322 patients (response rate, 78.5%). Of these, 118 (36.6%) were women. In 48 patients (14.9%), the person responding was a caregiver. Cronbach's alpha was 0.7. For 278 patients (86.3%), the ValCrònic program helped them to understand their disease better, 270 (83.9%) reported that it helped them use their medication more safely, and 283 (87.9%) reported they had better knowledge of their disease. For 288 (89.4%), the devices were easy to manage at home. Only 12 patients (3.7%) found that the devices involved a heavy workload that was difficult to incorporate into their daily lives. CONCLUSIONS: The ValCrònic program promotes self-care among patients.
Subject(s)
Chronic Disease/therapy , Patient Satisfaction , Telemedicine/instrumentation , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
OBJETIVO: Evaluar la satisfacción de los pacientes con el programa ValCrònic, los dispositivos de telemedicina y con el resultado de la atención recibida tras 2 años de seguimiento. DISEÑO: Estudio observacional descriptivo basado en encuestas telefónicas. Emplazamiento: Comunidad Valenciana. Participantes: En total participaron 410 pacientes que presentaban una o varias de las siguientes patologías: hipertensión, insuficiencia cardíaca, diabetes o enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica. Se incluyó a 585 pacientes, de los cuales 104 abandonaron el programa (18 por fallecimiento) y 71 rehusaron participar. MÉTODOS: Se diseñó y validó una escala específica. Se consideraron los efectos techo y suelo. Se analizó la consistencia interna mediante alfa de Cronbach. Para comprobar la validez de constructo se empleó un análisis exploratorio de componentes principales con criterio de autovaloración igual a 1. Se aplicó el procedimiento de rotación Varimax. Se consideraron como pérdidas aceptables de información cargas factoriales ≥ 0,55. La escala se conformó con 7 preguntas cerradas y 1 abierta. RESULTADOS: Respondieron un total de 322 pacientes (tasa de respuesta del 78,5%). 118 (36.6%) fueron mujeres. En 48 (14,9%) casos respondió un cuidador. El valor del alfa de Cronbach fue de 0,7. ValCrònic supuso para 278 (86,3%) pacientes una ayuda para conocer mejor su enfermedad, 270 (83,9%) afirmaron hacer un uso más seguro de la medicación gracias a ValCrònic y 283 (87,9%) dijeron conocer ahora mejor su enfermedad. Para 288 (89,4%) los dispositivos fueron fáciles de manejar en casa. Solo en 12 (3,7%) casos el paciente consideró que los dispositivos de telemedicina suponían una carga de trabajo difícil de conciliar en su día a día. CONCLUSIONES: ValCrònic ha contribuido a la activación de los pacientes para autocuidado
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate patient satisfaction with the ValCrònic program, telemedicine devices, and the results of the care received after a 2-year follow-up. DESIGN: Observational, descriptive study based on telephone surveys. Setting: The autonomous community of Valencia (Spain). Participants: Participants consisted of 410 patients with one or more of the following diseases: hypertension, heart failure, diabetes, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A total of 585 patients were included, of whom 104 left the program (18 due to death) and 71 refused to participate. METHODS: We designed and validated a specfic scale. Floor and ceiling effects were considered. Internal consistency was analyzed using Cronbach's alpha. RESULTS: Responses were obtained from 322 patients (response rate, 78.5%). Of these, 118 (36.6%) were women. In 48 patients (14.9%), the person responding was a caregiver. Cronbach's alpha was 0.7. For 278 patients (86.3%), the ValCrònic program helped them to understand their disease better, 270 (83.9%) reported that it helped them use their medication more safely, and283 (87.9%) reported they had better knowledge of their disease. For 288 (89.4%), the devices were easy to manage at home. Only 12 patients (3.7%) found that the devices involved a heavy workload that was difficult to incorporate into their daily lives. CONCLUSIONS: The ValCrònic program promotes self-care among patients
