A web-based survey to map the electromyography practice in Brazil

To evaluate where and how electromyography is performed in Brazil, as well as regional disparities and the professional and academic credentials of electromyographers.

Methods

We conducted an internet-based survey of active Brazilian electromyographers. The websites of health insurance companies, professional academies, medical cooperatives, online search engines, and social networks in each Brazilian state were screened and we evaluated the credentials of each electromyographer listed in the Brazilian Federal Medical Board (BFMB) registration website and their online curricula vitae in the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, CNPq, in Portuguese). We also evaluated the same parameters in a control group of non-electromyographer neurologists randomly matched by geographical distribution and gender.

Results

We found 469 electromyographers (384 neurologists and 85 non-neurologists), with a male predominance. In total, 81.9% were BFMB-certified neurologists, 49.9%, BFMB-certified clinical neurophysiologists, and 10.4%, BFMB-certified physiatrists. Among the non-neurologists, 48.2% were physiatrists. Most electromyographers practiced in states on the Southern and Southeastern regions of Brazil. When adjusted by population, the Federal District and the states of Mato Grosso do Sul and Goiás presented the highest of eletromyographers density. Electromyographers were not more likely to have current/past academic affiliations.

Conclusion

In Brazil, electromyography is performed predominantly by neurologists, and half of them are BFMB-certified clinical neurophysiologists. The present study highlights regional disparities and may guide government-based initiatives, for instance, to improve the diagnosis of leprosy and the management of neuromuscular disorders within the Brazilian territory.

Keywords
Brazil; Neurophysiology; Electromyography; Neurology

Variable		Electromyographers		Non-electromyographer neurologists
Variable		Non-neurologist	Neurologist	Non-electromyographer neurologists
Gender: n (%)	Male	58 (68.2)	244 (63.5)	244 (63.5%)
Gender: n (%)	Female	27 (31.8)	140 (36.5)	140 (36.5%)
Past academic affiliation: n (%)		3 (3.5%)	19 (5.0)	13 (3.4)
Current academic affiliation: n (%)		9 (10.6%)	69 (17.9)	61 (15.9)
Publications: n (%)	Neurology	133 (1.6)	2125 (5.6)	2083 (5.4)
	Neurophysiology	68 (0.8)	769 (2.0)	97 (0.2)
	Total	230 (2.7)	2364 (6.1)	2219 (5.8)

State	EMGers (N)	Inhabitants (N)	EMGers/100,000 inhabitants	Human development index
Acre	2	769,265	0.26	0.663
Alagoas	4	3,375,823	0.12	0.631
Amazonas	9	4,080,611	0.22	0.674
Amapá	1	797,722	0.09	0.708
Bahia	14	15,344,447	0.09	0.660
Ceará	17	9,020,460	0.19	0.682
Federal District	19	3,039,444	0.63	0.824
Espírito Santo	14	3,885,049	0.36	0.740
Goiás	26	6,778,772	0.38	0.735
Maranhão	9	7,000,229	0.13	0.639
Minas Gerais	48	21,119,536	0.23	0.731
Mato Grosso do Sul	12	2,713,147	0.44	0.729
Mato Grosso	8	3,441,998	0.23	0.725
Pará	8	8,366,628	0.10	0.646
Paraíba	5	4,025,558	0.12	0.658
Pernambuco	17	9,473,266	0.18	0.673
Piauí	4	3,219,257	0.12	0.646
Paraná	26	11,516,840	0.23	0.749
Rio de Janeiro	57	16,589,780	0.34	0.761
Rio Grande do Norte	6	3,507,003	0.17	0.684
Rondônia	6	1,748,531	0.34	0.690
Roraima	2	1,805,788	0.11	0.707
Rio Grande do Sul	34	11,422,973	0.30	0.746
Santa Catarina	20	7,252,502	0.28	0.774
Sergipe	6	2,288,116	0.26	0.665
São Paulo	137	45,595,497	0.30	0.783
Tocantins	2	1,550,194	0.13	0.699

Academia Brasileira de Neurologia - ABNEURO R. Vergueiro, 1353 sl.1404 - Ed. Top Towers Offices Torre Norte, 04101-000 São Paulo SP Brazil, Tel.: +55 11 5084-9463 | +55 11 5083-3876 - São Paulo - SP - Brazil
E-mail: revista.arquivos@abneuro.org

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[1] Address for correspondence Francisco de Assis Aquino Gondim (email: gondimfranc@gmail.com)