title: Utilization of laboratory investigations: study of knowledge, attitude and practice among primary care physicians.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to assess the physicians' knowledge, attitude and practice towards laboratory services in the primary health care (PHC) centers at Al-Khobar area.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five primary health care centers were selected out of 9 (56%) from the Al-Khobar area. Twenty physicians (33%), in these primary health care centers were included. A questionnaire was given to all physicians to explore the knowledge, attitude and practice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All physicians considered laboratory investigations an essential service that contributed to the management of their patients most of the time. Knowledge and practice of most (80% of them) regarding laboratory investigations was between fair to good but the attitude of 80% of them was poor since postgraduation experience was the only factor which influenced their practice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There has been an increase in number of Saudi physicians working in the Primary Health Care Centers. The quality of the current laboratory services was deficient according to 30% of physicians. They considered that investigations were essential for primary health care centers. And finally the utilization of laboratory tests in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was higher than many developing countries.
authors.affiliation: Primary Health Care Center, Madian AI-Fated, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bakarman
authors.forename: N Y
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Kurashi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hanif