La Sindrome di Münchausen per procura: conoscenze, attitudini, percezioni tra i professionisti sanitari che operano nel Dipartimento di Emergenza

Abstract

Introduction: The Münchausen Syndrome by Proxy (MsbP) is a condition in which the caring figure, usually the mother, causes or simulates a physical and psychological damage to her own child, in order to call upon herself the attentions of the people with whom she relates through the baby. This resulting psychological damage on the victims is devasting and it can even lead to death. From the Scientific Literature emerges the difficulty in diagnosing the Syndrome, therefore an adequate training of the healthcare personnel, is necessary. Purpose: To assess the level of knowledge of the Münchausen Syndrome by Proxy among professionals working in the Emergency Department. Material and methods: An observational and multicenter study was conducted in four hospitals located in the South of Italy. The tool used is the questionnaire of Hochhauser, was delivered in a sealed envelope to the Directors of the first Aid Operating Units and to the coordinators of the various departments and later distributed to the Medical and Nursing Staff. Results: The sample consists of 137 health professionals, which includes doctors and nurses Only 22.6% (n = 31) said they knew about the MSbP. 86.1% (n = 118) say they have never treated MSbP. 53.3% (n = 73) suspected or could now retrospectively suspect this syndrome. 41.6% (n = 57) found parents who exaggerated the child’s symptoms or attributed serious pathological meanings to modest symptomatological diseases. 93.4% (n = 128) asserted that training courses would be useful and necessary to deepen this syndrome. Conclusions: The results of the study indicate that only a minority of the analyzed professionals know the Münchausen Syndrome by proxy and only some of them would know how to manage and deal with such a situation. The need to increase professional training courses is highlighted on this issue, with the aim of improving the health professional’s awareness about the importance of recognition, diagnosis and treatment of this form of abuse.