Abstract:

Objective To understand the current status of implementing Diagnostic Criteria for Angiostrongyliasis (WS/T 321—2010) for scientific evidences to promote and further refine this standard. Methods By stratified sampling, we conducted a survey on the professionals from the disease prevention and control institutions (hereafter referred to as disease control institutions) and medical institutions at the provincial, municipal, county, and township levels in Fujian Province and Yunnan Province. Self-administered questionnaire was used to investigate the implementation status of Diagnostic Standard for Angiostrongyliasis (WS/T 321—2010). Results A total of 308 professionals were surveyed, and all of the questionnaires were validly retrieved. The awareness rate for the Standard was 71.10% (219/308). Among the subjects surveyed with different characteristics, those aged ≥50 (81.40%, 35/43), professionals working at prefecture level units (79.76%, 67/84) and in disease control institutions (88.24%, 105/119), engaging in parasitic disease prevention and control work (85.71%, 114/133), with senior professional titles (82.86%, 58/70), undergraduate education level (77.09%, 138/179), and public health majors (86.21%, 75/87) demonstrated higher awareness rates of the Standard. The awareness rate of the Standard showed an increasing trend with age and professional title (χ²_trend=8.272, 8.258, all P<0.05). The main channels to acquire the knowledge were professional training (65.30%, 143/219) and self-access to the knowledge (60.73%, 133/219). Among 219 respondents, who were aware of the Standard 75.34% (165/219) had the chance to use the Standard in real work, and 15.98% (35/219) used it frequently. The popularity rate of promotional materials was the highest among different promotion methods (58.77%, 181/308), and 75.32% (232/308) of the respondents considered that the special lecture had a good dissemination effect. The rate for completely mastering the diagnostic principles, infection modes, clinical manifestations, laboratory testing methods, and diagnostic types were 94.81% (292/308), 33.12% (102/308), 42.21% (130/308), 37.99% (117/308) and 49.35% (152/308), respectively. The absolute majority of respondents (89.61%, 276/308) considered that the operability of the standard was good or fairly good. The promotion efforts (80.84%, 249/308) had the greatest impact on the implementation of the Standard, and 91.88% (283/308) of the respondents insisted that there was no need to amend the Standard in current stage. Conclusion Diagnostic Standard for Angiostrongyliasis (WS/T 321—2010) is still applicable to the current diagnostic needs, and it is necessary to continue to increase the dissemination of the Standard among professionals to enhance their awareness and application levels.

Key words: Angiostrongyliasis, Diagnostic standard, Questionnaire survey, Follow-up evaluation