Knowledge, attitude and practice of ministry of health primary health care physicians in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus: A crosssectional study in the Al Hasa District of Saudi Arabia, 2010

Abstract

Objective: To assess the Knowledge Attitude and Practice (KAP) of MOH Primary Health Care Physician in the management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) Materials and Methods: A cross sectional survey was conduced between April and October 2010 on MOH Primary Health Care physicians working in Al Hasa district of Saudi Arabia by filling up of pre-tested specially designed questionnaires focused on Knowledge, Attitude and practice towards Type 2 DM patients. The answers were scored by assigning marks. ASPSS 18 was used for statistical analysis. Results: The mean of overall KAP score (±SD) for all the respondents were 66.59±8.82 (Maximum 100). Male physicians scored better than the females physicians (66.90, P=. 018 Vs 64.67, P=.018) and the same was true with the rural physicians who scored higher (68.65 ±10.19, P=.003) than the urban physicians (65.34±7.36, P=.003).The main weakness of knowledge was on epidemiology of Diabetes Mellitus (DM). 28.3 % (n=28) of physicians didn't know the correct diagnostic criteria of Type 2 DM and only 34.7% physicians knew the correct angle of insulin injection. 86.8% (n=86) of the physicians did not agree that Diabetic Self Management Education (DSME) is an essential part of diabetic care. The mean overall KAP score was significantly higher for physicians with 1-5 years of experience (70.16, P=