Level of Knowledge Regarding Mpox among Peruvian Physicians during the 2022 Outbreak: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: Due to the high incidence of mpox in Peru and the poor knowledge about this disease among healthcare workers in non-endemic countries, it is crucial to determine the knowledge status of Peruvian physicians. Methodology: We conducted an analytical cross-sectional study based on an online survey from August to September 2022. Physicians who had a medical license and lived and practiced medicine in Peru were included. To evaluate the factors associated with a higher level of knowledge, we used crude (cPR) and adjusted (aPR) prevalence ratios with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) using Poisson regression. Results: We included 463 physicians. The mean age was 36.6 (SD: 10.3) years, and most were male (58.1%). Regarding knowledge, the median knowledge score was 14 [IQR: 13 to 15] out of 17 points. In terms of knowledge gaps, only 60.7% of the participants knew that there was an FDA-approved vaccine for mpox, 49.0% of participants knew about mpox proctitis and 33.3% acknowledged that it could be transmitted by the bite of an infected rodent. We found that taking care of patients with mpox (aPR: 1.39; 95% CI: 1.13 to 1.72) was associated with higher knowledge (>p50), while living in the eastern macro-region (aPR: 0.62; 95% CI: 0.42 to 0.93) was associated with lower knowledge (≤p50). Conclusions: Our study showed a high level of knowledge about mpox among Peruvian physicians. However, educational campaigns may be necessary, especially for physicians from the eastern region and those who do not have clinical experience with mpox

Nivel de conocimiento sobre Mpox entre médicos peruanos durante el brote de 2022: un estudio transversal

Introduction: Due to the high incidence of mpox in Peru and the poor knowledge about this disease among healthcare workers in non-endemic countries, it is crucial to determine the knowledge status of Peruvian physicians. Methodology: We conducted an analytical cross-sectional study based on an online survey from August to September 2022. Physicians who had a medical license and lived and practiced medicine in Peru were included. To evaluate the factors associated with a higher level of knowledge, we used crude (cPR) and adjusted (aPR) prevalence ratios with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) using Poisson regression. Results: We included 463 physicians. The mean age was 36.6 (SD: 10.3) years, and most were male (58.1%). Regarding knowledge, the median knowledge score was 14 [IQR: 13 to 15] out of 17 points. In terms of knowledge gaps, only 60.7% of the participants knew that there was an FDA-approved vaccine for mpox, 49.0% of participants knew about mpox proctitis and 33.3% acknowledged that it could be transmitted by the bite of an infected rodent. We found that taking care of patients with mpox (aPR: 1.39; 95% CI: 1.13 to 1.72) was associated with higher knowledge (>p50), while living in the eastern macro-region (aPR: 0.62; 95% CI: 0.42 to 0.93) was associated with lower knowledge (≤p50). Conclusions: Our study showed a high level of knowledge about mpox among Peruvian physicians. However, educational campaigns may be necessary, especially for physicians from the eastern region and those who do not have clinical experience with mpox.Introducción: Debido a la alta incidencia de la mpox en Perú y al escaso conocimiento sobre esta enfermedad entre los trabajadores de la salud en países no endémicos, es crucial determinar el estado de conocimiento de los médicos peruanos. Metodología: Realizamos un estudio transversal analítico basado en una encuesta en línea de agosto a septiembre de 2022. Se incluyeron médicos que tenían licencia médica y residían y ejercían la medicina en Perú. Para evaluar los factores asociados a un mayor nivel de conocimiento se utilizaron razones de prevalencia crudas (cPR) y ajustadas (aPR) con intervalos de confianza del 95% (IC 95%) mediante regresión de Poisson. Resultados: Se incluyeron 463 médicos. La edad media fue de 36,6 (DE: 10,3) años y la mayoría eran hombres (58,1%). En cuanto a los conocimientos, la mediana de la puntuación de conocimientos fue de 14 [RIC: 13 a 15] sobre 17 puntos. En cuanto a las lagunas de conocimiento, solo el 60,7 % de los participantes sabía que existía una vacuna contra la mpox aprobada por la FDA, el 49,0 % de los participantes conocía la proctitis por mpox y el 33,3 % reconocía que podía transmitirse por la picadura de un roedor infectado. Encontramos que cuidar a pacientes con mpox (RPa: 1,39; IC 95%: 1,13 a 1,72) se asoció con un mayor conocimiento (>p50), mientras vivan en la macrorregión oriental (RPa: 0,62; IC 95%: 0,42 a 0,93) se asoció con un menor conocimiento (≤p50). Conclusiones: Nuestro estudio mostró un alto nivel de conocimiento sobre la mpox entre los médicos peruanos. Sin embargo, pueden ser necesarias campañas educativas, especialmente para los médicos de la región oriental y aquellos que no tienen experiencia clínica con la mpox