Torvorapanit Pattama, Leksuwankun Surachai, Plongla Rongpong, Worasilchai Navaporn, Langsiri Nattapong, Chindamporn Ariya, Thongkam Achitpol, Susaengrat Nuttapon, Ouwongprayoon Pongsakorn, Srisurapanont Karan, Manothummetha Kasama, Chuleerarux Nipat, Meejun Tanaporn, Thanakitcharu Jaedvara, Lerttiendamrong Bhoowit, Permpalung Nitipong, Nematollahi Saman
Thai Red Cross Emerging Infectious Diseases Clinical Center, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand.
Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, and King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand.
PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2025 Apr 8;19(4):e0013003. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0013003. eCollection 2025 Apr.
Pythiosis caused by Pythium insidiosum, is a rare but deadly infectious disease that is often underrecognized. The disease has high morbidity and mortality rates, particularly in vascular forms where surgical resection is necessary. A previous study demonstrated low awareness and knowledge of vascular pythiosis among Thai medical personnel. There is an urgent need to improve disease recognition given that vascular pythiosis is very prevalent in Thailand.
This study aimed to enhance knowledge and disease recognition about vascular pythiosis among Thai medical personnel and the public through a self-paced, asynchronous, open-access online course. The course included seven video lessons and was available from February to July 2023. Participants' knowledge was assessed using pretest and posttest analysis.
A total of 428 participants completed the course. Participants showed significant knowledge improvement, with mean posttest scores substantially higher than pretest scores, 6.77 vs. 3.46 (p-value < 0.01). Higher educational level had a positive impact with higher pretest and posttest scores, but the delta scores between the posttest and pretest of all groups were comparable. Moreover, 80% of participants demonstrated knowledge gain. However, participants of all groups scored the lowest on the posttest in diagnostic investigation field.
Very low pretest scores underline the neglected problem of vascular pythiosis. This asynchronous online course successfully enhanced participants' knowledge about vascular pythiosis. Future efforts should focus on collaborative initiatives at the government and university levels to emphasize disease recognition.
由毁灭丝囊霉引起的腐皮病是一种罕见但致命的传染病，常常未得到充分认识。该疾病的发病率和死亡率很高，尤其是在需要进行手术切除的血管型病例中。先前的一项研究表明，泰国医务人员对血管型腐皮病的认识和了解程度较低。鉴于血管型腐皮病在泰国非常普遍，迫切需要提高对该疾病的认识。
本研究旨在通过一个自主学习、异步、开放获取的在线课程，提高泰国医务人员和公众对血管型腐皮病的知识水平和疾病认知。该课程包括七个视频课程，于2023年2月至7月提供。通过前测和后测分析评估参与者的知识水平。
共有428名参与者完成了该课程。参与者的知识水平有显著提高，后测平均得分大幅高于前测得分，分别为6.77分和3.46分（p值<0.01）。较高的教育水平产生了积极影响，前测和后测得分更高，但所有组的后测与前测之间的差值得分相当。此外，80%的参与者知识有所增加。然而，所有组的参与者在后测中诊断调查领域的得分最低。
极低的前测得分凸显了血管型腐皮病被忽视的问题。这个异步在线课程成功提高了参与者对血管型腐皮病的认识。未来的努力应集中在政府和大学层面的合作倡议上，以强调疾病的识别。
