Aljulajil Faisal, Rabbani Unaib
Family Medicine Academy, Qassim Health Cluster, Buraydah, SAU.
Cureus. 2025 Jun 29;17(6):e86948. doi: 10.7759/cureus.86948. eCollection 2025 Jun.
BACKGROUND: Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors play a significant role in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) management due to their efficacy and favorable safety profiles. Despite their growing importance, there is limited information on the knowledge and prescribing behaviors of primary care physicians in Saudi Arabia, particularly in the Qassim region, regarding the use of DPP-4 inhibitors. This study sought to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and prescribing patterns of primary care physicians concerning DPP-4 inhibitors in the management of T2DM. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 161 primary care physicians in the public sector from the Qassim region. Data were collected through a semi-structured and validated self-administered questionnaire that collected data on knowledge about DPP-4 inhibitors, attitudes toward their use, and prescription practices. Statistical analyses, both descriptive and inferential, were performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, US). RESULTS: Participants showed specific knowledge gaps, but overall, most had a positive outlook. A significant majority (86.3%) were aware of the low risk of hypoglycemia associated with these agents; however, only 60.9% recognized them as a relatively new therapeutic option. Overall, physicians demonstrated positive attitudes and appropriate prescribing practices. Knowledge levels showed significant associations with physician age (<0.001), clinical experience (<0.001), qualifications (<0.001), and the availability of educational resources (<0.001). CONCLUSION: Primary care physicians in the Qassim region generally possess good awareness and favorable attitudes toward DPP-4 inhibitors. However, further targeted educational programs are essential to bridge identified knowledge gaps and enhance prescribing practices for optimal T2DM care.
背景:二肽基肽酶-4(DPP-4)抑制剂因其疗效和良好的安全性,在2型糖尿病(T2DM)管理中发挥着重要作用。尽管其重要性日益凸显,但关于沙特阿拉伯,特别是卡西姆地区初级保健医生在使用DPP-4抑制剂方面的知识和处方行为的信息有限。本研究旨在评估初级保健医生在T2DM管理中对DPP-4抑制剂的知识、态度和处方模式。 方法:对卡西姆地区公共部门的161名初级保健医生进行了一项横断面研究。通过一份半结构化且经过验证的自填式问卷收集数据,该问卷收集了有关DPP-4抑制剂的知识、对其使用的态度以及处方实践的数据。使用社会科学统计软件包(SPSS)25版(美国纽约州阿蒙克市IBM公司)进行描述性和推断性统计分析。 结果:参与者存在特定的知识差距,但总体而言,大多数人持积极态度。绝大多数(86.3%)意识到这些药物与低血糖风险较低相关;然而,只有60.9%的人将它们视为相对较新的治疗选择。总体而言,医生表现出积极的态度和适当的处方实践。知识水平与医生年龄(<0.001)、临床经验(<0.001)、资质(<0.001)以及教育资源的可获得性(<0.001)存在显著关联。 结论:卡西姆地区的初级保健医生对DPP-4抑制剂总体上有良好的认识和积极的态度。然而,进一步的针对性教育项目对于弥补已发现的知识差距和加强处方实践以实现最佳T2DM护理至关重要。
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