Clinical competences for human viral hepatitis treatment of primary healthcare physicians from the Guatemalan social security system

To measure the clinical competence for diagnosis and treatment of human viral hepatitis in primary health care physicians. Cross-sectional study in which a previously validated instrument to measure competences was used, and subsequent comparison between physicians at various primary health care units (PHCT) from the Guatemalan Institute of Social Security (GISS). This information was analyzed using descriptive and non-parametrical statistics. 104 physicians, from 5 PHCT ascribed to GISS were analyzed. A low level of clinical competence for diagnosis and treatment of human viral hepatitis in this physicians group was found, within a range of 9 to 62 points obtained through an instrument with a maximum theoretical value of 88; no significant statistical difference between PHCT was found. PHCT physicians from require continuing education to improve their clinical competence on human viral hepatitis.