A critical issue for primary care practice: knowledge and attitudes of family physicians regarding levothyroxine use

Abstract

Objective: Accurate management of hypothyroidism, which is one of the common reasons for referral to primary care, is critically important issue. This study aims to measure the knowledge and attitudes of family physicians (FPs) regarding the use of levothyroxine, which is the main pharmacological agent in the treatment of hypothyroidism.
 Methods: This prospective and descriptive study was performed on 102 physicians from family health centers in Şanlıurfa province central districts. The researchers created a questionnaire consisting of eight questions; seven of which were multiple choices and one was open-ended, by scanning the guidelines and literature. Data were obtained by face-to-face interview technique. 
 Results: Of the participants, 21 (20.6%) were female and 81 (79.4%) male physicians, and the mean age of the participants was 36.9±8.0 (28-66) years. The work duration as a FP was 6.1±3.3 years. Sixteen (15.7%) of the participants reported that they had never prescribed levothyroxine. Two-thirds of them correctly answered the relationship between levothyroxine absorption and food intake, and 36.3% correctly answered that there would be a difference in absorption between different levothyroxine formulations. However, the rate of correct answers to the question of how to start hypothyroidism treatment in patients over 60 years of age or with coronary artery disease was quite low.
 Conclusions: The results of this study revealed that FPs in Sanliurfa central districts do not have adequate knowledge about the use of levothyroxine for treatment of hypothyroidism, and they need effective training on this vital issue.
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