Physician Knowledge of Chagas Disease in Hispanic Immigrants Living in Appalachian Ohio.

Abstract

Studies have indicated that US physicians may not consider Chagas disease when diagnosing immigrant patients from Chagas-endemic areas. The purpose of this study was to evaluate physician knowledge of Chagas disease in six Appalachian Ohio counties. Physician knowledge was assessed by self-administrated survey (n=105). Over 80% of physicians reported that their current knowledge of Chagas disease was limited or very limited, and 50% reported never considering Chagas disease diagnosis for their at-risk patients. Nearly 70% of physicians were unaware of the percentage of chronic Chagas patients that develop clinical disease, and 36% could not correctly identify the disease course. In addition, over 30% of physicians reported that no services were available within their practice to assist Spanish-speaking patients with limited English proficiency. A lack of physician awareness of Chagas disease, coupled with a lack of translation services, may create a barrier to care by decreasing the likelihood of identification of patients at risk for Chagas disease. The results of this study support the need for interventions to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment of Chagas disease in Hispanic immigrants in rural Appalachian Ohio.