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. 2024 Dec 20:43:e2024087.
doi: 10.1590/1984-0462/2025/43/2024087. eCollection 2024.

Anaphylaxis management: knowledge of Brazilian pediatricians

Maria Cecília Barata Dos Santos Figueira  1 , Georgia Veras de Araújo Gueiros Lira  2 , Giselia Alves Pontes da Silva  2 , Emídio Cavalcanti de Albuquerque  1 , Luciana Rodrigues Silva  3 , Dirceu Solé  4 , Emanuel Sávio Cavalcanti Sarinho  2
Affiliations

Anaphylaxis management: knowledge of Brazilian pediatricians

Maria Cecília Barata Dos Santos Figueira et al. Rev Paul Pediatr. .

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Objective: To verify the level of knowledge of Brazilian pediatricians about anaphylaxis, identifying sociodemographic and educational characteristics of the professional which contribute to the adequate management of this clinical disorder.

Methods: A survey was carried out on the management of anaphylaxis using a questionnaire prepared and distributed by email to pediatricians in different states in Brazil. The level of knowledge about anaphylaxis was classified as: satisfactory; unsatisfactory; more than satisfactory; ideal, according to evaluation criteria adopted for the statements of clinical cases that addressed the drug of choice, route of administration, positioning of the patient with anaphylaxis and recognition of the clinical case with differential diagnosis.

Results: A total of 1,645 Brazilian pediatricians participated, of which 48.5% had satisfactory knowledge of the management of anaphylaxis. Approaches to choosing the preferred drug for anaphylaxis and the route of administration were the biggest obstacles to responses. The factors associated with satisfactory knowledge were shorter time since graduation, having a medical residency in pediatrics, having a qualification in allergy and immunology, having completed the Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) in the last two years and having experience in anaphylaxis.

Conclusions: The results regarding satisfactory knowledge of anaphylaxis are lower than those expected for the treatment of a potentially fatal condition. It is important to encourage the continuing education of pediatricians who work mainly in emergencies, wards, and intensive care units, in light of the use of the assumptions of andragogy and Ausubel's theory, with active methodologies, to promote significant and permanent learning of management of anaphylaxis.

Objetivo:: Verificar o nível de conhecimento dos pediatras brasileiros sobre anafilaxia, identificando características sociodemográficas e educacionais do profissional que contribuem para o adequado manejo desta desordem clínica.

Métodos:: Foi realizado um inquérito sobre o manejo da anafilaxia utilizando um questionário elaborado e distribuído por e-mail para os pediatras dos diversos estados do Brasil. O nível de conhecimento sobre anafilaxia foi classificado em: satisfatório, não satisfatório, mais que satisfatório e ideal, de acordo com critérios de avaliação adotados para as assertivas dos casos clínicos que abordavam a droga de escolha, via de administração, posicionamento do paciente com anafilaxia e reconhecimento do caso clínico com diagnóstico diferencial.

Resultados:: Participaram 1.645 pediatras brasileiros, dos quais 48,5% apresentaram conhecimento satisfatório no manejo da anafilaxia. Abordagens sobre a escolha da droga preferencial na anafilaxia e a via de administração foram os maiores entraves nas respostas. Os fatores associados ao conhecimento satisfatório foram: menor tempo desde a graduação, possuir residência médica em pediatria, possuir habilitação em alergia e imunologia, ter realizado o Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) nos últimos dois anos e possuir experiência em anafilaxia.

Conclusões:: Os resultados quanto ao conhecimento satisfatório em anafilaxia são inferiores aos esperados para o tratamento de uma condição potencialmente fatal. É importante incentivar a educação permanente dos pediatras que atuam principalmente em emergências, enfermarias e unidades de tratamentos intensivos, à luz da utilização dos pressupostos da andragogia e da teoria de Ausubel, com metodologias ativas, a fim de promover uma aprendizagem significativa e permanente do manejo da anafilaxia.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests.

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