Assessing the impact of the 2018 tetanus guidelines on knowledge and practices of emergency physicians in trauma patients: a national survey study
Background Tetanus remains a significant public health issue in China, with the approach of anti-tetanus prophylaxis in the emergency department resulting in both overuse, particularly of human tetanus immune globulin (TIG), and underuse with the tetanus vaccine. This is largely due to the absence o...
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| Format: | Article |
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PeerJ Inc.
2023-09-01
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| Online Access: | https://peerj.com/articles/16032.pdf |
| _version_ | 1827600019061997568 |
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| author | Junling Gao Xiaxia Yu Guanghui Cao Xiaoming He Pingde Zhang Joseph Walline Yuanxi Wang Xingjuan Yu Jun Xu Thuan-Quoc Thach Yong Liu |
| author_facet | Junling Gao Xiaxia Yu Guanghui Cao Xiaoming He Pingde Zhang Joseph Walline Yuanxi Wang Xingjuan Yu Jun Xu Thuan-Quoc Thach Yong Liu |
| author_sort | Junling Gao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background Tetanus remains a significant public health issue in China, with the approach of anti-tetanus prophylaxis in the emergency department resulting in both overuse, particularly of human tetanus immune globulin (TIG), and underuse with the tetanus vaccine. This is largely due to the absence of updated guidelines on tetanus prophylaxis before 2018. Our study aimed to evaluate the effects of the 2018 Chinese tetanus guidelines on the knowledge and practices of emergency physicians about tetanus prevention in trauma patients. Methods From November 2019 to April 2020, we conducted a web-based survey involving 499 emergency physicians. The survey included a questionnaire covering knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to tetanus. We assessed the influence of the 2018 tetanus guidelines on the knowledge and practices of emergency physicians related to tetanus prevention for patients with trauma using multiple regression analysis. Results The survey results showed that only 45.3% of the participants had received formal training on tetanus immunization, despite 53.3% reporting the availability of tetanus vaccines at their institutions. Physicians typically prescribed tetanus antitoxin or human TIG instead of tetanus toxoid (TT) to treat injuries, regardless of the patient’s TT vaccination history. Among the respondents, those who were aware of the 2018 tetanus guidelines had higher mean scores on the general knowledge, risk knowledge, and treatment knowledge scales, with increases of 6%, 13%, and 9%, respectively, compared to those who were unaware of the guidelines. Awareness of the 2018 tetanus guidelines was associated with a high level of knowledge, as indicated by the general knowledge score, recommendation knowledge score, and total knowledge score, after adjusting for the effects of all variables on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the participants. A high level of education was also associated with a high level of knowledge indicated by the recommendation knowledge score and total knowledge score. Conclusions Our study highlights a substantial gap in the attitudes, knowledge, and practices of emergency physicians in China regarding tetanus immunization. The results suggest an urgent need to promote the Chinese Expert Consensus Guidelines on tetanus to improve emergency physicians’ knowledge and competence in tetanus prophylaxis. The findings underscore the importance of enhancing physicians’ awareness of the latest guidelines to ensure appropriate and effective treatment for patients with tetanus-prone injuries. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:26:02Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2167-8359 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:26:02Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-a20e264a721d4ea6834d6969502e7f8e2023-12-03T13:40:25ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592023-09-0111e1603210.7717/peerj.16032Assessing the impact of the 2018 tetanus guidelines on knowledge and practices of emergency physicians in trauma patients: a national survey studyJunling Gao0Xiaxia Yu1Guanghui Cao2Xiaoming He3Pingde Zhang4Joseph Walline5Yuanxi Wang6Xingjuan Yu7Jun Xu8Thuan-Quoc Thach9Yong Liu10Buddhist Practices and Counselling Science Lab, Centre of Buddhist Studies, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaSchool of Biomedical Engineering, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, ChinaEmergency Department, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, Xiangyang Central Hospital, Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, ChinaDepartment of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaAccident and Emergency Medicine Academic Unit, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDepartment of Cardiac and Vascular Interventional Surgery, Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, ChinaDepartment of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yantai, ChinaEmergency Department, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDepartment of Intensive Care Unit, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, ChinaBackground Tetanus remains a significant public health issue in China, with the approach of anti-tetanus prophylaxis in the emergency department resulting in both overuse, particularly of human tetanus immune globulin (TIG), and underuse with the tetanus vaccine. This is largely due to the absence of updated guidelines on tetanus prophylaxis before 2018. Our study aimed to evaluate the effects of the 2018 Chinese tetanus guidelines on the knowledge and practices of emergency physicians about tetanus prevention in trauma patients. Methods From November 2019 to April 2020, we conducted a web-based survey involving 499 emergency physicians. The survey included a questionnaire covering knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to tetanus. We assessed the influence of the 2018 tetanus guidelines on the knowledge and practices of emergency physicians related to tetanus prevention for patients with trauma using multiple regression analysis. Results The survey results showed that only 45.3% of the participants had received formal training on tetanus immunization, despite 53.3% reporting the availability of tetanus vaccines at their institutions. Physicians typically prescribed tetanus antitoxin or human TIG instead of tetanus toxoid (TT) to treat injuries, regardless of the patient’s TT vaccination history. Among the respondents, those who were aware of the 2018 tetanus guidelines had higher mean scores on the general knowledge, risk knowledge, and treatment knowledge scales, with increases of 6%, 13%, and 9%, respectively, compared to those who were unaware of the guidelines. Awareness of the 2018 tetanus guidelines was associated with a high level of knowledge, as indicated by the general knowledge score, recommendation knowledge score, and total knowledge score, after adjusting for the effects of all variables on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the participants. A high level of education was also associated with a high level of knowledge indicated by the recommendation knowledge score and total knowledge score. Conclusions Our study highlights a substantial gap in the attitudes, knowledge, and practices of emergency physicians in China regarding tetanus immunization. The results suggest an urgent need to promote the Chinese Expert Consensus Guidelines on tetanus to improve emergency physicians’ knowledge and competence in tetanus prophylaxis. The findings underscore the importance of enhancing physicians’ awareness of the latest guidelines to ensure appropriate and effective treatment for patients with tetanus-prone injuries.https://peerj.com/articles/16032.pdfChinese Expert Consensus GuidelinesCECGKnowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP)Tetanus toxoidTetanus |
| spellingShingle | Junling Gao Xiaxia Yu Guanghui Cao Xiaoming He Pingde Zhang Joseph Walline Yuanxi Wang Xingjuan Yu Jun Xu Thuan-Quoc Thach Yong Liu Assessing the impact of the 2018 tetanus guidelines on knowledge and practices of emergency physicians in trauma patients: a national survey study PeerJ Chinese Expert Consensus Guidelines CECG Knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) Tetanus toxoid Tetanus |
| title | Assessing the impact of the 2018 tetanus guidelines on knowledge and practices of emergency physicians in trauma patients: a national survey study |
| title_full | Assessing the impact of the 2018 tetanus guidelines on knowledge and practices of emergency physicians in trauma patients: a national survey study |
| title_fullStr | Assessing the impact of the 2018 tetanus guidelines on knowledge and practices of emergency physicians in trauma patients: a national survey study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing the impact of the 2018 tetanus guidelines on knowledge and practices of emergency physicians in trauma patients: a national survey study |
| title_short | Assessing the impact of the 2018 tetanus guidelines on knowledge and practices of emergency physicians in trauma patients: a national survey study |
| title_sort | assessing the impact of the 2018 tetanus guidelines on knowledge and practices of emergency physicians in trauma patients a national survey study |
| topic | Chinese Expert Consensus Guidelines CECG Knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) Tetanus toxoid Tetanus |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/16032.pdf |
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