Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Pediatric Physicians toward APGAR Score in Al-Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Apgar score is a scoring system developed by Virginia Apgar in 1952 to assess newborns' health status. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of physicians covering delivery rooms toward APGAR score at the Ministry of Health Hospitals in Al-Qassim Province, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among pediatric physicians at different Ministry of Health Hospitals in Qassim province, Saudi Arabia. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed among the targeted physicians using an online survey. The questionnaire includes socio-demographic data, a questionnaire that assesses knowledge toward APGAR score, and a questionnaire that measures the attitude and practice of APGAR score. Results: Among the 138 pediatric physicians involved in the study, 63% were males, and 38.4% were aged between 36 to 45 years old. The mean knowledge score was 6.04 (SD 1.17) out of 7 points. For attitude, the overall mean attitude score was 48.5 (SD 1.72) out of 60 points, with nearly all physicians (88.4%) estimated to have a positive attitude, and the rest were neutral (11.6%). Factors associated with increased knowledge were being more experienced, educated, and a consultant, while being a resident was associated with an improved attitude. Conclusion: The knowledge and attitude of pediatric physicians toward the APGAR score were sufficient. Older physicians with higher education and years of experience were likelier to demonstrate better knowledge. However, the attitude and practices toward the APGAR scores were more likely demonstrated by the resident physicians. More research is needed to shed more light on the knowledge and attitude of pediatric physicians in our region.