Abstract
Despite mounting evidence supporting fecal transplantation (FT) as a treatment for recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), adoption into clinical practice has been slow. To determine the health literacy and attitudes of academic physicians in Toronto and infectious disease physicians in Ontario toward FT as a treatment for recurrent CDI, and to determine whether these are significant barriers to adoption. Surveys were distributed to 253 general internists, infectious diseases specialists, gastroenterologists and family physicians. The response rate was 15%. More than 60% of physicians described themselves as being 'not at all' or 'somewhat' familiar with FT. Of the 76% of physicians who had never referred a patient for FT, the most common reason (50%) was lack of awareness of where to access the treatment. The 'ick factor' accounted for only 13% of reasons for not referring. No respondent believed that the procedure was too risky to consider. Despite general poor health literacy on FT, most physicians sampled share similar positive attitudes toward the treatment.
Highlights
Despite mounting evidence supporting fecal transplantation (FT) as a treatment for recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), adoption into clinical practice has been slow
An introduction and link to the survey was sent via e-mail, using current listservs from the University of Toronto (Toronto, Ontario) department heads and the Ontario Medical Association, to 120 general internists at the University of Toronto, 78 infectious disease specialists at the Ontario Medical Association, and 31 gastroenterologists and 24 family physicians at three academic hospitals in Toronto, Ontario
Our findings suggest that the majority of Ontario physicians surveyed who see patients with RCDI have positive attitudes toward FT, and the main barrier to referral is a lack of health literacy
Summary
Despite mounting evidence supporting fecal transplantation (FT) as a treatment for recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), adoption into clinical practice has been slow. Objective: To determine the health literacy and attitudes of academic physicians in Toronto and infectious disease physicians in Ontario toward FT as a treatment for recurrent CDI, and to determine whether these are significant barriers to adoption. Methods: Surveys were distributed to 253 general internists, infectious diseases specialists, gastroenterologists and family physicians. Of the 76% of physicians who had never referred a patient for FT, the most common reason (50%) was lack of awareness of where to access the treatment. The ‘ick factor’ accounted for only 13% of reasons for not referring. Conclusion: Despite general poor health literacy on FT, most physicians sampled share similar positive attitudes toward the treatment
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