title: Development of a measure of knowledge and attitudes about obstructive sleep apnea in children (OSAKA-KIDS).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Primary care physicians play an important role in screening for childhood obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) that, if untreated, can result in serious complications.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the development of the Obstructive Sleep Apnea Knowledge and Attitudes in Children (OSAKA-KIDS) questionnaire for use in measuring physicians' knowledge and attitudes about childhood OSAS and its treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey to pilot administration of the 23-item OSAKA-KIDS questionnaire, mailed to 1195 community- and academic-based physicians in Louisville, Ky; Philadelphia, Pa; and St Louis, Mo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analysis of variance measured differences in knowledge and attitudes between academic- and community-based physicians and between pediatricians and family practitioners. Using stepwise multiple linear regression, we analyzed the associations between various predictors (including specialty, practice setting, and years since medical school graduation) and each item of knowledge and attitudes. All tests were 2-tailed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Questionnaires for 497 respondents (44% female; mean [SD] age, 45.7 [10.5] years; and mean [SD] number of years since medical school graduation, 18.7 [11.0] years) were analyzed. The mean (SD) knowledge score (percentage of 18 possible) was 69.6% (14.6%). In regression analyses, more knowledge was associated with more positive attitudes overall and more recent graduation from medical school; having a more positive attitude was associated with having completed a pediatrics residency and more knowledge about OSAS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Deficits in basic knowledge about childhood OSAS were observed regardless of physician practice setting and specialty training. More education focusing on the diagnosis and treatment of childhood OSAS and identifying children at risk for OSAS is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy and Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, USA. Uong_e@kids.wustl.edu
authors.forename: Elizabeth C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Uong
authors.forename: Donna B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Jeffe
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gozal
authors.forename: Raanan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arens
authors.forename: Cheryl R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Holbrook
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Palmer
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cleveland
authors.forename: Helena M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Schotland
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010372:Pediatrics; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000523:psychology*; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires