Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria.
Department of Medicine, Federal Medical Center, Asaba, Nigeria.
West Afr J Med. 2020 Dec;37(7):783-789.
Despite the high global burden of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), doctors' knowledge of OSA was reported to be generally poor. Data on knowledge, attitude and practice of doctors regarding OSA are scarce in Africa. The only Nigerian study providing data on this included few participants and did not assess practice. We assessed the knowledge, attitude and practice of doctors regarding OSA in southern Nigeria with the aim of finding gaps in knowledge and practice.
We sent out online survey monkey self-administered structured questionnaires to the WhatsApp numbers or e-mails of 1917 eligible medical doctors. The questionnaires were used to collect data on demography of the medical doctors, their professional history and knowledge of OSA symptoms; general facts, risks factors, and treatment regarding OSA; and their attitude and practice in relation to OSA.
Data from five hundred and eighty one respondents (mean age, 39.8 ± 8.7) were analyzed. Overall mean knowledge score was 25.3±6.3 (68.6±17.2 percent). The mean knowledge score of Internists, Family Physicians, General practitioners and Surgeons were 28.2±5.0; 25.0±6.9; and 24.5±5.8 and 24.2±6.7 respectively. Only 47% and 51% of the respondents respectively affirmed that hypertension and diabetes mellitus were associated with increased risk of OSA; and 7.2% referred suspected OSA patients for polysomnography.
The level of knowledge of OSA among participating doctors was poor. Most of them had the right attitude to OSA but their practice and care of OSA patients was suboptimal. We suggest improvement in care through education and provision of diagnostic and treatment facilities.
尽管阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停（OSA）在全球的负担很高，但据报道，医生对 OSA 的了解普遍较差。关于医生对 OSA 的知识、态度和实践的数据在非洲很少。唯一一项提供有关该主题数据的尼日利亚研究仅包括少数参与者，并且没有评估实践。我们评估了尼日利亚南部医生对 OSA 的知识、态度和实践，旨在发现知识和实践中的差距。
我们向 1917 名合格医生的 WhatsApp 号码或电子邮件发送了在线调查猴自我管理的结构化问卷。这些问卷用于收集有关医生的人口统计学数据、他们的专业历史和 OSA 症状知识；关于 OSA 的一般事实、危险因素和治疗；以及他们与 OSA 相关的态度和实践。
分析了 581 名受访者（平均年龄 39.8 ± 8.7）的数据。总体平均知识得分为 25.3±6.3（68.6±17.2%）。内科医生、家庭医生、全科医生和外科医生的平均知识得分分别为 28.2±5.0；25.0±6.9；24.5±5.8 和 24.2±6.7。只有 47%和 51%的受访者分别肯定高血压和糖尿病与 OSA 风险增加有关；和 7.2%将疑似 OSA 患者转介进行多导睡眠图检查。
参与研究的医生对 OSA 的了解程度较差。他们大多数对 OSA 持有正确的态度，但他们对 OSA 患者的治疗和护理并不理想。我们建议通过教育和提供诊断和治疗设施来改善护理。
