title: Attitudes and knowledge about obstructive sleep apnea among Latin American primary care physicians.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to evaluate Latin American primary care physicians' knowledge and attitudes about obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) using a Spanish-language version of the OSA Knowledge and Attitudes (OSAKA) questionnaire and to evaluate its psychometric properties.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a cross-sectional survey of general practice physicians in Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela who completed the Spanish-language version OSAKA questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 684 primary care physicians surveyed, 367 (65%) responded (mean age, 45 years; range, 21-75 years). Mean total knowledge (proportion of 18 items correctly answered) was 60% (range, 0-100%). Less than half of physicians correctly answered the questions about the association between OSA and hypertension. We found no significant differences in overall knowledge in gender or time since graduation (< or =5 years vs. >5 years). Although 73.5% of the physicians felt confident in identifying patients at risk for OSA, only 35.4% felt confident in managing those patients and 22.1% felt confident in managing patients with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. The Spanish-language version of the OSAKA questionnaire had comparable psychometric properties to the English-language version.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This Spanish-language version of the OSAKA yielded considerable variance in Spanish-speaking physicians' knowledge about OSA and confidence in identifying and managing patients with OSA. Focused OSA education for Latin American general physicians is needed.
authors: Respiralab Research Center Kennedy Hospital, Guayaquil, Ecuador. Electronic address: icherrez@yahoo.com.
authors: Ivan
authors: I
authors: Cherrez Ojeda
authors: Donna B
authors: DB
authors: Jeffe
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Guerrero
authors: Ronnie
authors: R
authors: Mantilla
authors: Ilka
authors: I
authors: Santoro
authors: Gustavo
authors: G
authors: Gabino
authors: Juan C
authors: JC
authors: Calderon
authors: Fernan
authors: F
authors: Caballero
authors: Jose
authors: J
authors: Mori
authors: Annia
authors: A
authors: Cherrez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D007843:Latin America; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058007:Physicians, Primary Care / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000592:standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Attitudes; Knowledge; OSAKA questionnaire; Obstructive sleep apnea; Primary care; Validation