Guatemala Internal Medicine Physicians' Knowledge of Non-communicable Disease Clinical Preventive Services

A voluntary, anonymous, self-completed, cross-sectional survey was administered to all available internal medicine staff in Guatemalan teaching hospitals.

The questionnaire included: physician's demographics, work time dedicated to outpatients, knowledge of leading causes of death in Guatemala, guidelines used for non-communicable disease prevention, simulated cases asking for recommendation(s) on different preventive services for asymptomatic adults (i.e. whether they recommended them or not, appropriate frequency and starting age, preferred screening method, and availability of the service(s) at their hospital). The survey also assessed barriers faced in providing adequate services, and opinions on who should implement changes in national health care and in medical education.

The answers given by the internal medicine staff were compared with the United States Preventive Services Task Forces (USPSTF) Recommendations and Guatemalan Ministry of Health Guidelines.

Analysis compared recommendation practices within and between hospitals.

Inclusion criteria

• All interns, internal medicine residents and attendings (including department director, unit directors and regular attendings) that are currently training or working in an Internal Medicine department in any of the ten teaching hospitals in Guatemala.

Exclusion criteria

• Staff that is on vacations, on sick leave or suspended by any reason.