Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of the Medical Community in Training Regarding Gestational Trophoblastic Disease

• Grant number: 24/22460-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2025
• End date: March 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Maternal and Child Health
• Principal Investigator: Daniela Angerame Yela Gomes
• Grantee: Beatriz Pinheiro de Jesus
• Host Institution: Centro de Atenção Integral à Saúde da Mulher (CAISM). Hospital da Mulher Professor Doutor José Aristodemo Pinotti. Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: pregnancy is a period of heightened vulnerability in women's health, during which complications can arise and lead to diverse outcomes. One example is gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD), a group of conditions resulting from the abnormal and excessive proliferation of trophoblast cells, which form the placenta. GTD can present in benign or malignant forms. In Brazil, 1 in every 200-400 pregnancy-related complications is due to GTD, with the benign form, hydatidiform mole, being the most common. However, despite its lower incidence, about 20% of cases may progress to malignant neoplasms. Therefore, it is crucial for physicians to be familiar with the clinical presentation, diagnostic possibilities, and treatment of the disease. Despite existing treatment protocols, GTD is not always well-diagnosed or managed, leading to incorrect treatments and progression to more severe conditions. The scarcity of scientific studies investigating gynecologists' diagnostic and therapeutic practices concerning GTD underscores the need for further research. Objective: to identify the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of medical professionals in training regarding gestational trophoblastic disease, focusing on its clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment. Methods: a descriptive cross-sectional study will analyze the knowledge, diagnostic approaches, and management strategies of medical trainees concerning GTD. A questionnaire will be administered to 64 medical trainees and 200 practicing gynecologists and obstetricians in São Paulo. The structured questionnaire, divided into five sections (participant characterization, general knowledge, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment), will be distributed via Google Forms. Data Processing and Analysis: frequencies, means, and standard deviations of variables will be calculated. Fisher's exact test and the chi-square test will be used to compare qualitative variables, while the Student's T-test and the Mann-Whitney test will be employed for continuous variables. A p-value < 0.05 will be considered statistically significant. The Statistical Analysis System (SAS) software version 9.4 will be used for these analyses.Keywords: Gestational Trophoblastic Disease, Diagnosis, Treatment, Knowledge.