When Information Does Not Translate into Knowledge. Ebola and Hemorrhagic Fevers Knowledge among Primary Care Physicians and Nurses

Lluís Valerio¹, Olga Pérez-Quílez¹, Sílvia Roure¹, Elisabeth Fructuoso², Itziar Amilibia², Nemesio Moreno³, Lydia Sañudo², Cristina Bocanegra¹, Octavi Martínez-Cuevas¹

¹North Metropolitan International Health Unit (PROSICS), Institut Català de la Salut, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Catalonia, Spain.
²North Metropolitan Pimary Care Service, Institut Català de la Salut, Badalona, Catalonia, Spain.
³North Metropolitan Primary Care Service, Epidemiology and Technical Department, Institut Català de la Salut, Sabadell, Catalonia, Spain.

DOI: 10.4236/ojpm.2015.53014                

Abstract

After the first secondarily-transmitted ebola case in Spain, a wave of divergent opinions flooded mass and sanitary media. Very few of these opinions, however, came from experts on epidemiology or hemorrhagic fevers. This observational study aimed to assess the specific knowledge of Primary Care physicians and nurses about ebola and hemorrhagic fevers by means of analyzing the results obtained from a 5-item self-reported questionnaire dealing on hemorrhagic fevers basic knowledge. Validity and reliability of questionnaire were confirmed by a pilot study. The participants were 138 family doctors and nurses from the 64 public Primary Care centers sited in the North Metropolitan Area of Barcelona (1,400,000 inhab; Catalonia, Spain) taking part in training-the-trainers ebola workshops. Overall, there were 117 (84.8%) respondents out from 138 workshop participants; of them were physicians 61 (51.2%). The main age was 46.7 (8.8) years; stating previous specific knowledge on hemorrhagic fevers 39 (33.3%). On the whole, up to 92 (78.6%) of respondents shown a poor knowledge. Previous specific formation was significantly and independently associated with having proper knowledge (p < 0.001); OR = 8.6 (CI 95%: 3.199 - 23.623). In summary, confusion that accompanied the single secondary-transmitted ebola case in Spain could probably be explained by the existence of a serious gap on hemorrhagic fevers knowledge. More accurate, scientific and formally-presented information should be provided to Primary Care physicians and nurses.

Keywords

Ebola, Haemorrhagic Fevers, Primary Care, Spain, Nursing, Knowledge

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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