Abstract
Coccidioidomycosis presumably causes ≤ 33% of community-acquired pneumonias cases, although < 15% of the patients are tested for coccidioidomycosis. We assessed healthcare providers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding coccidioidomycosis diagnosis and treatment in Arizona. A survey was mailed to 7,608 eligible healthcare providers licensed by the Arizona medical, osteopathic, and nursing boards in October and December 2007. We used weights to adjust for non-response and multivariate logistic regression models to identify predictors of ≥ 70% correct regarding knowledge and treatment practices. Of 1,823 (24%) respondents, 53% were physicians, 52% were male, and the mean age was 51 years. Approximately 50% reported confidence in their ability to treat coccidioidomycosis, and 21% correctly answered all four treatment questions. Predictors of ≥ 70% correct concerning knowledge and treatment practices included always counseling patients after diagnosis (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 4.4; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.8–7.1); specializing in infectious diseases (AOR = 2.4; 95% CI: 1.0–5.7); and having received coccidioidomycosis continuing medical education (CME) in the last year (AOR = 1.8; 95% CI: 1.2–2.6). These findings demonstrate that coccidioidomycosis CME improves knowledge of disease diagnosis and management, underscoring the need for a comprehensive coccidioidomycosis education campaign for healthcare providers in Arizona.
Acknowledgments
The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Use of trade names and commercial sources are for identification purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the Public Health Service or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
This survey was supported by the Arizona Department of Health Services. The authors wish to acknowledge Thom Wilson and Christine Wampler at the Arizona Department of Health Services, Phoenix, for their administrative support, Kris Bisgard at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, for manuscript review, and John Galgiani and Susan Hoover at the Valley Fever Center for Excellence, Tucson, for their assistance with survey development.
Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.
This paper was first published online on Early Online on 20 January 2011.