Primary care physicians' knowledge of sleep medicine and barriers to transfer of patients with sleep disorders. A cross-sectional study

Saudi Med J. 2017 May;38(5):553-559. doi: 10.15537/smj.2017.5.17936.

Abstract

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.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Humans
  • Hypnotics and Sedatives / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Physicians, Primary Care / psychology*
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Sleep Wake Disorders / drug therapy*

Substances

  • Hypnotics and Sedatives