Chagas Disease Screening: Awareness, Practices And Perceived Barriers Among Health Care Providers In Connecticut

Background: An estimated 288,000 people in the United States are infected with Chagas disease. Despite published recommendations for health care providers, the neglected nature of this disease persists, in part due to gaps in knowledge and low levels of Chagas disease awareness among health care providers. A survey was emailed to health care providers to assess knowledge, screening practices and provider-perceived barriers to screening for Chagas disease. Methods: The survey link was emailed to healthcare providers and department heads. Providers answered a series of questions categorized either as knowledge (K), practice (P), or perceived barriers (B), which were then scored by category. Analysis included Spearman’s rho test to measure the strength of correlation coefficient between K and P scores, and between K and B scores, Kruskal-Wallis tests to see if average K, P and B scores were equal across specialty groups, and Pairwise Wilcoxon Rank Sum Tests to assess for a significant difference between average scores of cardiology, infectious disease and the “other specialties” category. Results: 92 providers consented to complete the survey, 88 of whom fit the inclusion criteria of either affiliation with Yale University or YNHH. Infectious disease scored highest on average in knowledge and practices, and reported lower provider-perceived barriers (0.66±0.183, 0.35±0.247, 0.42±0.365). No specialty received higher than 0.66±0.183 on average for knowledge or screening practices. Average perceived barriers to screening were highest in the “other” specialty category (0.76±0.303). There was a significant positive association between knowledge scores and screening practice scores, and a significant negative association between knowledge scores and perceived barriers to screening. Conclusions: This study revealed a knowledge deficit among health care providers in various specialties, which was associated with less frequent adherence to recommended screening practices for Chagas disease, as well as higher provider-perceived barriers to screening. This information can be used to inform provider education initiatives so that patients at risk for Chagas disease may be better served

The Ursinus Weekly, November 9, 1964

Senior Ball, Friday, offers Camelot, Al Raymond band: Lord and Lady, permanent class officers to be announced • Graduate awards available from science foundation • Miller and Zucker review election returns, meaning • Museum director on American art to be Forum highlight: Dr. Turner to emphasize the 20th century • William Shaffer, vice-president UC Board of Directors, dies • Pancoast in State House to seek greater local power • Faculty action penalizes 4 with fines, demerits • Curtain Club selects cast for Winnie the Pooh production, schedules December showing • English Club to meet tonight • Editorial: Altruism at Ursinus • Life in the cow palace; An eyewitness account • Kaffee Klatsch hosts large crowd to discuss rights • A girl\u27s life at Ursinus: 1906 • Spotlight: UC abroad • Advice column • Bears belt Haverford 19-6 at Haverford homecoming: Tony Motto scores two touchdowns • Soccermen defeat LaSalle 5-2 • Hockey team wins biggest: W.C., best ever, falls 1-0; West Chester places 5 on all-stars, Ursinus team effort proves supreme • Wrestling to start Tuesday • U.C. men\u27s mooning team suffers setback at hands of faculty • 200 dance to Okie Duke at Cafe Montmarte • Greek gleaningshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1233/thumbnail.jp