Knowledge Of Primary Health Care Physicians Research Articles

Knowledge and practice of depression management among primary healthcare physicians.

ABSTRACTBackground:Depression is a mood disease that affects the energy, behavior, and mood of individuals. Depression is associated with an increased risk of chronic disease. Primary healthcare physicians play an important role in the diagnosis and management of depression. We aim to determine the knowledge of primary healthcare physicians on depression.Methods:This is an observational cross-sectional study that was conducted on primary healthcare physicians using a structured validated questionnaire. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS 22nd edition.Results:This study included 235 primary healthcare physicians, and the mean ± standard deviation of age was 29 ± 3 years. Males were predominant in the study (62%), and the large majority were residents (94.9%). There were 79.5%, 91.5%, and 27.8% who had good knowledge, a positive attitude, and a good practice, respectively. There was no factor found to affect the knowledge and attitude, whereas only the position of participants was significantly associated with the level of practice (P = 0.027).Conclusion:There were good knowledge and a positive attitude of primary healthcare physicians regarding depression; however, their practice was poor.

Knowledge, attitude and practices of PHC physicians in Aseer region regarding management of acute asthma.

Objectives:This study aims to explore knowledge, attitude and practices of physicians working at primary health care (PHC) in Abha, KSA, regarding assessment and management of acute bronchial asthma.Subjects and Methods:This is a cross-sectional study that was conducted among PHC physicians in Abha, Khamis Mushayt and Ahad Rufeida cities, Aseer region KSA in 2018. A questionnaire that was constructed by the investigators was used to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of PHC physicians regarding the diagnosis and management of patients with acute asthma. The questionnaire was distributed under the supervision of the first investigator. Data management was carried out using SPSS version 23.Results:A total of 200 PHC physicians participated in this study. About two-thirds of them (63.5%) had good grade of knowledge regarding acute asthma management, whereas 44% had positive attitude toward acute asthma management. The main knowledge gaps were doses of drugs used in the management of acute severe asthma attack (36%), and diagnosis of acute severe asthma attack (51.5%). Physicians' main source of knowledge on asthma included textbooks (26%) and guidelines (61.5%). Physicians' practice grades were significantly higher among those with less experience in PHC (p = 0.011). Almost all PHC centers (PHCC) (98%) had oxygen and nebulizers, 72.5% had steroids, 71.5% had salbutamol, 50.5% had ipratropium and 41% had peak flow meter, whereas 73.5% had the Saudi Initiative for Asthma (SINA) guidelines.Conclusion:This study revealed that knowledge of PHC physicians regarding the management of bronchial asthma was suboptimal, their attitude is not completely positive, and their adherence to asthma management guidelines is quite low. Some PHCCs were lacking important drugs and equipment for management acute asthma that should be provided. Well-structured training of PHCC doctors on SINA is mandatory to upgrade their knowledge, promote their attitude and improve their skills.

Perceptions of primary care physicians about early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis and methotrexate monitoring

Background: Current guidelines recommend the early recognition and diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis and treatment with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Methotrexate is the first drug of choice for most patients with rheumatoid arthritis, but this medication has contraindications and side effects that need monitoring. This survey analysis aims to explore the level of knowledge of primary healthcare physicians towards the early detection of rheumatoid arthritis and monitoring treatment with methotrexate.Methods: A self-administered structured questionnaire was distributed to primary healthcare physicians in the region of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The survey consists of sections including the demographics of respondents, knowledge about rheumatoid arthritis, and methotrexate. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22.Results: In total, 249 physicians responded to the survey. Physicians with more years of experience showed a significantly higher level of knowledge about rheumatoid arthritis and methotrexate monitoring (p-value <0.001). The responses of physicians regarding knowledge about the disease were better than their responses about the drug.Conclusions: The knowledge of primary healthcare physicians in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is considered satisfactory in regard to rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis, but the level of knowledge about methotrexate requires improvement.

Knowledge and practices of primary health care physicians regarding updated guidelines of MERS-CoV infection in Abha city.

Background:Human coronaviruses (hCoV) usually cause mild to moderate upper respiratory tract illnesses. The novel coronavirus (nCoV), or Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), is a particular strain different from any other known hCoV with the possibility of human and also zoonotic transmissions. The aim of the study to assess primary health care (PHC) physicians’ knowledge and adherence regarding Saudi Ministry of Health guidelines regarding MERS-CoV.Materials and Methods:A cross-sectional study design was followed to include 85 PHC physicians in Abha city. An interview questionnaire has been designed by the researcher that was used to assess knowledge and practices of PHC physicians regarding diagnosis and management of MERS-CoV. It includes personal characteristics, the MERS-CoV knowledge assessment questionnaire, and practices related to adherence toward guidelines regarding MERS-CoV.Results:PHC physicians’ knowledge gaps regarding MERS-CoV included protected exposure (32.9%), highest seasonal incidence of MERS-CoV in Saudi Arabia (60%), relation between incidence of MERS-CoV and overcrowding (62.4%), case fatality of MERS-CoV cases (63.5%), and collecting specimens from MERS-CoV patients (64.7%). The knowledge of PHC physicians about MERS-CoV was poor among 5.9%, good among 63.5%, and excellent among 30.6%. Personal protective equipment to be used when seeing suspected cases of MERS-CoV infection were mainly the mask (94.1%), gloves (78.8%), the gown (60%), goggles (31.8%), and the cap (22.4%). All participants stated that the most important standard precaution that should be applied when seeing a case of MERS-CoV infection is hand washing, whereas 97.6% stated that the most important respiratory precaution to prevent transmission of respiratory infections in PHC setting when seeing a case of MERS-CoV infection is masking and separation of suspected MERS-CoV patients, and 81.2% stated that upon exit from the room of a MERS-CoV patient, the physician should remove and discard personal protective equipment. PHC physicians’ knowledge about MERS-CoV differed significantly according to their nationality (P = 0.038), with non-Saudi physicians expressing higher percent of excellent knowledge than Saudi physicians (40% and 20%, respectively). Those who attended continuing medical education (CME) activities had significantly higher percent of excellent knowledge than those who did not attend a CME activity (55.6% and 23.9%, respectively, P = 0.011). PHC physicians’ knowledge did not differ significantly according to their age, gender, qualification, experience in PHC, and practice-related adherence to guidelines. PHC physicians’ practice-related adherence to guidelines about MERS-CoV differed significantly according to their position (P = 0.035), with specialists having the highest percent of excellent practice (13%).Conclusions:There are knowledge gaps among PHC physicians in Abha city, and their practice is suboptimal regarding MERS-CoV infection. Less than one-fourth of PHC physicians attend CME activities about MERS-CoV infection. However, significantly less practice-related adherence to guidelines are associated with Saudi PHC physicians, those who did not attend a related CME activity, and MBBS qualified physicians’ general practitioners. To increase awareness, more CME activities related to MERS-CoV infection management needs to be organized.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Primary Care Physicians Toward Adult Vaccination in Abha City

Aim of study: To assess knowledge, attitude and practice of primary care physicians offering primary health care (PHC), toward adult vaccination and their own vaccination coverage as well as to identify reasons for low vaccination coverage.Methodology: A cross-sectional study design, this study included 103 PHC physicians in Abha City. A self-administered questionnaire was designed by the researcher for data collection.Results: About three fourths of PHC physicians (73%) had poor knowledge, while 21% had moderate knowledge and only 6% had good knowledge, while 41% had positive attitude toward adult vaccination, 49% had neutral attitude while 10% had negative attitude. Most PHC physicians (70%) had poor practice regarding adult vaccination, while 20% had moderate practice and 10% had good practice. PHC physicians’ knowledge was significantly better among older and non-Saudi physicians (p<0.001 and p=0.001, respectively). PHC physicians’ positive attitude toward adult vaccination was significantly higher among female participants (p=0.013), among Non-Saudi physicians (p=0.004) and among those with experience in primary health care more than 10 years (p=0.044). PHC physicians’ good practice regarding adult vaccination was significantly higher among older physicians and among those with experience in primary health care more than 10 years (p=0.004). The most frequently stated reasons for low adult vaccination coverage were “Lack of coordinated immunization programs for adults” (63.1%), “Physicians do not inform patients about adult vaccination because they do not have enough time” (61.2%) and “Lack of availability of up-to-date records and recording systems” (55.3%).Conclusions: Knowledge of PHC physicians in Abha City regarding adult vaccination is suboptimal. Most of them do not have negative attitude toward adult vaccination. Their practice regarding adult vaccination is mostly poor. There are several obstacles against implementing vaccination of adults.Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.17(3) 2018 p.369-381