Exploring Primary Care Providers’ Confidence in Managing Chronic Kidney Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major global health concern worldwide. CKD has become a major health concern in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) owing to rising rates of diabetes and hypertension. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge and competence of healthcare professionals in KSA regarding CKD management, focusing on aspects such as screening, diagnosis, complications, and treatment, based on the latest evidence-based guidelines. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among healthcare professionals involved in management of patients with CKD and DM patients in the KSA. The duration of the study was six months, that is, September 1, 2024, to February 28th, 2025. A validated self-administered questionnaire was used to assess the participants’ confidence in different aspect of CKD management. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, the relative importance index (RII) and univariate binary logistic regression to identify factors associated with higher confidence using SPSS. Results: A total of 391 healthcare professionals were included in this study. Among the healthcare professionals recruited, 54.0% were age group–28-37 years and 52.2% were pharmacists. The regression analysis showed diabetologists demonstrated the highest confidence in selecting appropriate CKD management (OR = 9.78, 95% CI: 2.39–39.96, p = 0.002), 5.16 times higher odds for understanding ACE-Is/ARBs (OR = 5.16, 95% CI 1.40–19.10, p = 0.014), and 6.09 times higher odds for initiating newer agents for diabetic kidney disease (OR = 6.09, 95% CI: 1.67–22.30, p = 0.006). Confidence increased progressively with professional experience, particularly among those with 3–4 years (OR = 5.14, 95% CI 1.63–16.25), 7–8 years (OR = 8.40–14.58, 95% CI 2.46–54.81), and 9–10 years (OR = 11.25–15.87, 95% CI 2.52–78.32; p < 0.01). Conclusion: Confidence in CKD management among healthcare professionals in Saudi Arabia was variable and influenced by professional role and experience. Diabetologists and those with 3–10 years of experience reported significantly higher confidence. These findings underscore the need for targeted educational interventions to strengthen CKD management confidence and capacity among primary care professionals.