RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Primary care physicians’ knowledge of sleep medicine and barriers to transfer of patients with sleep disorders
JF Saudi Medical Journal
JO Saudi Med J
FD Prince Sultan Military Medical City
SP 553
OP 559
DO 10.15537/smj.2017.5.17936
VO 38
IS 5
A1 Ahmed H. Saleem
A1 Faisal A. Al Rashed
A1 Ghassan A. Alkharboush
A1 Othman M. Almazyed
A1 Awad H. Olaish
A1 Aljohara S. Almeneessier
A1 Ahmed S. BaHammam
YR 2017
UL http://smj.org.sa/content/38/5/553.abstract
AB Objectives: To assess primary care physicians’ (PCPs) knowledge and attitudes toward sleep disorders.Methods: In this cross-sectional quantitative study, we surveyed 88 primary care centers under the Ministry of Health during 2015 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, using a combination of pre-designed validated questionnaires. Knowledge was assessed using the Assessment of Sleep Knowledge in Medical Education (ASKME) questionnaire, and attitude was assessed using a pre-designed survey. For numerical variables, t-test was used, and for categorical variables, Chi-square test was used.Results: Data from 223 PCPs (males 50.2%) were analyzed. Among the participants, 44 (19.9%) did not know that sleep medicine is a distinct medical specialty, and 24 (10.9%) felt that sleep disorders are uncommon medical problems based on their daily practice. Only 87 (39%) of physicians stated that they referred patients with sleep disorders to specialized medical centers for further management. The mean score of the ASKME questionnaire was 14.4 ± 4 out of 30 (48%). The majority of physicians (78.5%) obtained a score between 11 and 20. Score results were not related to gender or years of practice.Conclusion: Primary care physicians’ have a low level of awareness and poor knowledge of sleep medicine and sleep disorders.