Knowledge about gastroesofagic reflux disease in children under one year old in a group of Mexican pediatricians Conocimiento sobre enfermedad por reflujo gastroesofágico en menores de un año en grupo de pediatras Mexicanos

abstract

© 2019, Sociedad Argentina de Gastroenterologia. All rights reserved.Physiologic gastroesophageal reflux had a prevalence of 85% during the first year of life. Objectives. To evaluate knowledge of Mexican pediatricians regarding the diagnosis and treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease in patients under one year old. Methods. This is a questionnaire, semi-quantitative, and transversal study. A survey with 18 questions was developed and validated using Delphi methodology. Google Forms platform was used to distribute and apply the survey to general pediatricians and sub-specialists. Participation was anonymous and voluntary. The evaluation was based on American and European Societies for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition and Secretaria de Salud of Mexico. Performance was classified on correct answers: poor (0-4), regular (5-7), and good (8-10). Statistical descriptive and inferential analysis was applied using Microsoft Excel 2013 and SPSS Statistics 20. Results. 139 pediatricians were surveyed. 59.7% of the surveyed pediatricians have a sub-specialty. 93.1% of the surveyed obtained a score < 8 correct answers. Women got better scores evaluations against men (p = 0.03). Gastroenterologists obtained better scores when comparing against pulmonologists but not in respect of other groups. Most (47.5%) of the pediatricians overestimated GERD prevalence, a few (12.2%) would consider a pHmetry in the presence of GERD and most of the pediatricians considered initiating empiric therapy (42.4%). Most (85.1%) of the pediatricians would use a motility agent, most likely cisapride (49.6%). Conclusion. In this sample pediatricians do not follow guidelines recommendations of diagnosis and/or treatment of GERD, despite most of them consider having a considerable knowledge of this disease. It is imperative to promote knowledge among Mexican pediatricians based on clinical guidelines for the management of GERD.