Primary care physicians' knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to diabetic retinopathy in Buraidah city, Qassim region, Saudi Arabia

Survey of Primary Care Physicians' Screening and Treatment Practices for Prediabetes in Saudi Arabia

Background Prediabetes is defined as a condition in which glucose levels do not fulfill the criteria for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), indicating that the patient is at an increased risk of developing T2DM. The risk of developing T2DM can be decreased by adequately managing prediabetes. This study aimed to assess screening and therapeutic approaches to prediabetes among primary care physicians in Saudi Arabia because there is little contemporary data available on this topic. Methodology A cross-sectional study was performed among primary care physicians in Saudi Arabia. The participants completed a validated online survey questionnaire via Google Forms. Data collected included participants' demographic information, knowledge of T2DM risk factors, and opinions and beliefs on prediabetes management. Results In total, 155 primary care physicians responded to the questionnaire; 51% were male, 18.7% worked in Riyadh City, and 81.3% specialized in family medicine. Most study respondents (71.9%) were residents, and 64.5% worked for the Ministry of Health. Overall, 93.5% of the respondents had completed part of their postgraduate training in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, 27.7% of the respondents were aware of all nine risk factors associated with T2DM. The correct fasting glucose and hemoglobin A1c ranges for the diagnosis of prediabetes were identified by 50% and 43.6% of participants, respectively. Most respondents believed lifestyle modification and metformin to be the most effective management approaches to prediabetes, whereas lack of motivation toward lifestyle changes was deemed to be a major barrier. Conclusions We found significant gaps in primary care physicians' knowledge regarding prediabetes in Saudi Arabia, contributing to underscreening of the condition and undertreatment. Identifying these gaps is essential for focussing educational endeavors toward primary care physicians.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices towards Diabetic Retinopathy among Primary Care Physicians of Saudi Arabia: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study

Primary care physicians play a vital role in preventing the progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR) from the initial stages to the late stages. This questionnaire-based analytical cross-sectional study was carried out to assess the knowledge, attitude, practices, and their correlation among 274 randomly selected primary care physicians in Saudi Arabia. Among the studied population, high knowledge, attitudes, and practice scores were observed in 21.5%, 15%, and 29.2% of the physicians, respectively. The mean knowledge score was significantly higher among the age group of less than 30 years (p = 0.031) and the female gender (p = 0.012). The attitude scores were significantly higher among the Saudi physicians (p = 0.027) and those with PHC work experience of less than five years (p < 0.001). Regarding the practices, a significant association was found among the age group of less than 30 years (p = 0.019) and Saudi physicians (p = 0.003). There was a significant positive correlation between knowledge (correlation coefficient (r) = 0.739, p < 0.001) and attitude (r = 0.479, p = 0.007) with the practice scores. It is recommended that targeted continuous medical education, workshops, and seminars are conducted on the prevention and care of DR among primary care physicians. Furthermore, an exploratory multicenter study that involves primary care physicians belonging to all ministries and private sectors is warranted.