TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS MANAGEMENT KNOWLEDGE AMONG PHC PHYSICIANS IN BURAIDAH CITY, 2020

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is highly prevalent in Saudi Arabia. primary health care (PHC) doctors provide most of T2DM medical care Objectives: To estimate PHC physicians and family medicine residents level of T2DM management knowledge as per Saudi national reference of clinical guidelines for care of diabetic patients. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using a structured questionnaire. Beside general participant characteristics, we prepared 17 questions on four aspects of T2DM management. These were diagnosis, non-pharmacological and oral hypoglycemic agent, insulin and follow up. Each aspect was given a score of 4-6 points and the total score was 20 points. Result: Out of 258 physicians, 178 were actually available at the time of the survey and 106 completed the study questionnaire. The overall response rate was 41.1%. The mean age of participants was 34.1 years and around two thirds of them were males. In-training family medicine residents formed the largest segment, 45 (42.5%). Mean duration of practice was 7.8 years. The reported daily workload showed that more than one-third of physicians (36.5%) manage ≥ 20 patients per day and almost all of them manage T2DM. Out of the total 20 points, only one quarter of participants had scored more than 15 points, while another quarter could not achieve more than 40%. Only physician qualification had impacted physician performance. Conclusion: PHC doctors knowledge about T2DM management is sub-optimal. Properly selected educational activities targeted diabetes management are needed.