Knowledge, attitudes and practices of food-borne diseases and surveillance among physicians in Guangdong, China

The aim of this study is to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and practices of food-borne diseases and surveillance among physicians in Guangdong, China. A total of 812 participants responded to a self-administered questionnaire with in-person interviews taking place in 10 hospitals. The ratio of male to female was 1:1. The majority of the respondents worked in internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, and clinical laboratory specialties and had been working as a physician for less than 20 years. Most of the respondents had at least university undergraduate degrees. Results showed over 50% of respondents could not identify the characteristics of food-borne diseases (except food poisoning), and 60% of respondents were not aware of the existence of the Pulsed Field Gel Eelectrophoresis (PFGE) system, which would allow them to monitor food-borne illnesses. 8% of respondents would not collect stool specimens for culture. Only 10% of respondents had positive attitudes towards reporting cases when there was only one suspected case. The predominant reason for non-reporting centered on physicians overlooking patients symptoms as minor with assuming of regular therapy being effective. Thus, physicians considered reporting unnecessary. In diagnosis, when patients presented with symptoms of the nervous system, the muscular system, fever, headache, and dizziness, most of the respondents would consider food-borne diseases depending on the situation. Results of this study show that there is need for food-borne disease surveillance education programs. Adequate education for physicians on food-borne diseases is critical not only for proper treatment of food-borne diseases in patients, but also for on time reporting to health authorities. In order to evaluate the results of the education sessions, further study of the assessment system is necessary.