[Impact of an educational campaign by WhatsAppⓇ on hidradenitis suppurativa among the walk-in clinic physicians of a University Hospital].

BACKGROUND

The limited diffusion about hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) among general practitioners, leads to diagnosis delays.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the impact of a short and long-term educational campaign on HS among the walk-in clinic physicians of the Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires (HIBA)

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Quasi-experimental study with an educational intervention by disseminating a piece of information about HS among 142 walk-in clinic physicians of the HIBA. The same anonymous survey on knowledge of the HS was carried out on 3 occasions: baseline, 1 and 9 months after the intervention. The correct answers were compared before, after 1 and 9 months. The survey and the piece of information were sent by WhatsAppⓇ.

RESULTS

Of the total, 64 (45%) answered in the first stage, 48 (34%) in the second stage and 56 (39%) in the third stage. In the baseline survey, only half knew the inflammatory nature of the disease, 3 out of 5 physicians chose an inadequate antibiotic scheme, the surgery mostly indicated was drainage, only a fifth considered ultrasound useful, and a third did not believe that the patient could benefit from referral to a dermatologist. After the educational campaign, we observed a learning in the HS management, which was held at 9 months.

DISCUSSION: We observed a lack of HS training among general practitioners. The WhatsAppⓇ platform could be useful as an educational tool.