Abstract
Background: Sickle cell disease is a major public health issue in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), but it is still poorly understood by health professionals. The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge and practices of Congolese physicians treating sickle cell disease (SCD), in order to identify the areas for improvement in clinical care. Methods: This was a descriptive observational study conducted among Congolese physicians using a questionnaire. Participants were evaluated using a pre-established answer grid. Results: A total of 460 physicians participated, including 81 women (18%), with an average age of 35 years (range 25–60 years). Most physicians were general practitioners. Although self-assessment of their level of knowledge on SCD was estimated as average to good, less than half of the participants (n = 460; 46%) reported adequate management of vaso-occlusive crises, and only 1% of them had received specific training on SCD. Most physicians reported difficulties both in terms of diagnostic (65%) and management (79%) options of SCD patients. This study also showed that 85% of these physicians did not have access to the diagnostic tools for SCD. Conclusions: Insufficient knowledge on SCD and poor diagnostic and treatment options might contribute to increased morbidity and mortality of patients living in the DRC. Interventions aiming to improve physicians’ knowledge, patient follow-up, and treatment access are needed. Specific training alongside existing programs (HIV, malaria), early diagnosis of the disease, and the creation of patient advocacy groups should be implemented to improve SCD patient care.
Highlights
Hemoglobinopathies, mainly comprising thalassemia and sickle cell anemia, are inherited conditions
Insufficient knowledge among physicians might contribute to the high mortality and morbidity rates related to sickle cell disease. This assumption led us to evaluate the knowledge and practices of Congolese physicians concerning SCD patient care and to propose concrete actions to improve it. This was a descriptive observational study conducted on a population that included physicians, who predominantly practiced in five cities within the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
The study comprised any general practitioner (GP) or specialist practicing in the DRC and registered in the National Council of the Order of Physicians who agreed to participate in the study
Summary
Hemoglobinopathies, mainly comprising thalassemia and sickle cell anemia, are inherited conditions. SCD is a common disease in the DRC, with 2% of newborns homozygous for hemoglobin S, representing around 40,000 births per year [3,4] This figure is epidemiologically significant, the disease remains relatively unrecognized, resulting in a high mortality rate in a country with limited resources [5]. Sickle cell disease is a major public health issue in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), but it is still poorly understood by health professionals. The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge and practices of Congolese physicians treating sickle cell disease (SCD), in order to identify the areas for improvement in clinical care. Conclusions: Insufficient knowledge on SCD and poor diagnostic and treatment options might contribute to increased morbidity and mortality of patients living in the DRC. Specific training alongside existing programs (HIV, malaria), early diagnosis of the disease, and the creation of patient advocacy groups should be implemented to improve SCD patient care
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