Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Regarding Diabetes among Saudi MOH Primary Healthcare Physicians in Jeddah: A Cross Sectional Study

ABSTRACT

Background: Role of primary care physicians in managementof diabetes mellitus is very essential. Their attitudes andpractices are influenced by their knowledge; therefore, theimportance of healthcare providers in promoting understandingand helpful attitudes about diabetes cannot be underestimated.Objective: To assess the level of knowledge, attitude andpractice of general physicians regarding diabetes in Jeddahcity.Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study wasconducted throughout the period 1st June to 31st August 2018among a representative sample of general practitionersworking at Ministry of Health (MOH) primary health carecentres in Jeddah city, Saudi Arabia. A structured selfadministered questionnaire was used to collect data. It iscomprised of four sections, starting with demographicinformation and clinical experience, 12 questions measuringthe respondent’s knowledge of diabetes diagnosis, treatmentand complications, 9 questions evaluating physician’s attitudetowards diabetes control and 6 questions measuring thephysician’s practices toward their diabetic patients.Results: The study included 171 physicians. Femalesrepresent 58.5% of them. Almost half of them (50.9%) agedbetween 30 and 39 years. Majority of the physicians (82.5%)were Saudis. Overall, the knowledge score percentage rangedbetween 8.33% and 100% with a mean of 69.7% and standarddeviation of ±9.4%. Female physicians (p=0.007), thoseworking at diabetic clinics (p<0.001) and have seenbetween 51 and 100 patients/ week (p = 0.005) were moreknowledgeable. Overall, based on median level of the attitudescore, more than half of the physicians (54.4%) had positiveattitude towards DM and its control. Overall, the practice scorepercentage ranged between 0% and 100% with a mean of67.3% and standard deviation of 22.8%. Physicians working atdiabetic clinics (p<0.001) and those without history of DMamong first degree relatives (p=0.036) expressed betterpractice than others.Conclusion: General practitioners had fair knowledgeregarding DM with deficiency in some important aspects. Theirattitude towards diabetic control is quite acceptable. However,their practice regarding some important aspects wassuboptimal.