title: Knowledge and Practice of PHC Physicians toward the Detection and Management of Hypertension and Other CVD Risk Factors in Egypt.
abstract: Aim. To assess the knowledge and practice of PHC physicians toward the detection and management of hypertension (HTN) and other CVD risk factors. Methods. A cross-sectional study of all primary health care physicians of the FHU of three rural districts of Egypt was conducted. Each physician was subjected to a prevalidated interview questionnaire on the WHO-CVD risk management package for low and medium resources, and a checklist of observation of daily practices. Results. Hypertension was a priority problem in about two-thirds (62.9%) of physicians, yet only 19% have guidelines for HTN patients. Clinical history recording system for HNT was available for 50% of physicians. Levels of knowledge varied with regard to definition of HTN (61.3%, fair), procedures for BP measurement (43.5%, poor), indications for referral (43.5%, poor), patient counseling (61.3%, fair), patient treatment (59.8%, fair). Availability of clinical history recording system for HNT was a significant predictor for physician's level of knowledge (P = 0.001). Overall level of practice was fair (68.5%). Conclusion. PHC physicians have unsatisfactory knowledge and practice on hypertension. There is a need of more continuing medical education. Local and international manuals, workshops, and seminars on how to make use of these guidelines would improve doctors' performance.
authors.affiliation: Biobanking Section, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, King Saud Bin-Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, P.O. Box 22490, Riyadh 11426, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mostafa A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Abolfotouh
authors.forename: Laila A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Soliman
authors.forename: Sameh M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Abolfotouh
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raafat