Doubts about the diagnosis and treatment of syphilis in pregnancy among primary care professionals in a telehealth service

This cross-sectional study aims to describe doubts regarding the diagnosis and treatment of syphilis in pregnancy among primary care professionals in a telehealth service. All teleconsultations (TCs) offered through TelessaúdeRS-UFRGS to primary health care (PHC) services in a state in southern Brazil involving syphilis in pregnancy were included. A total of 356 (TCs) were analyzed.

The main doubts about syphilis during pregnancy raised by primary care professionals were related to the need for retreatment (35%), diagnostic definition (23%), and initial treatment (16%). In addition, 95% of TCs were suitable for diagnosing and treating syphilis based on the Brazilian Ministry of Health guidelines. This study suggests that TCs can identify failures in the diagnosis and treatment of public health problems and support decision-making in PHC involving syphilis in pregnancy.

Methods
Setting

TelessaúdeRS-UFRGS is affiliated with the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) and funded by the Brazilian Ministry of Health. The telehealth program has already been detailed elsewhere. Briefly, the TC modality allows providers to discuss in real-time specific patient- or practice-related questions concerning all primary care issues, including infectious diseases. Once an answer has been prepared, the teleconsultant verbally provides the inquirer with a suggestion for management while also making a written record of the information on a text platform.