title: Knowledge about bronchial asthma management in primary health care physicians in Al-Khobar City, Saudi Arabia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prevalence of bronchial asthma (BA) is increasing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Primary health care (PHC) centers follow the national protocol, which is based on the severity of the disease for the management of asthma. The Saudi initiative for asthma (SINA) management adopted from the global initiative for asthma guidelines, which was recommended by several recent studies, is based on the control level of asthma.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the knowledge of PHC physicians and family medicine (FM) residents in Al-Khobar, about the management of BA.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted in all PHC centers and the university FM clinic in Al-Khobar. All PHC physicians and 3(rd) and 4(th) year FM residents were included in the study. A self-administered questionnaire developed according to SINA guidelines was used to assess theoretical knowledge of BA, and a predesigned checklist was used to assess the different inhaler techniques. Scoring was established and collected data were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 8% of the sample had good theoretical knowledge of BA; 41% had poor knowledge. The knowledge of the residents was better than that of the PHC physicians. The mean knowledge score was significantly better among those using guidelines compared to the rest. About 23% had good knowledge of inhaler techniques. Knowledge of PHC physicians and FM residents about dry powder inhalers was deficient, and PHC physicians had little knowledge of metered dose inhalers with spacers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The knowledge of physicians about the management of BA was deficient. The national guidelines based on the level of control for asthma management should be updated and physicians given periodic training.
authors: Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Dammam, Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors: Haneen A
authors: HA
authors: Yousef
authors: Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Dammam, Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors: Manal
authors: M
authors: Koura
authors: Department of Pediatrics, King Fahd Hospital of the University, Al-Khobar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors: Abdullah A
authors: AA
authors: Yousef
keywords: Bronchial asthma; devices; primary health care
references: Chest. 1999 Oct;116(4 Suppl 1):145S-154S
references: 10532476
references: Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2011 Apr;11(2):132-6
references: 21301331
references: Ann Thorac Med. 2008 Apr;3(2):44-7
references: 19561904
references: Eur Respir J. 2008 Jan;31(1):143-78
references: 18166595
references: Saudi Med J. 2009 Apr;30(4):546-9
references: 19370285
references: Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2001 Mar;86(3):292-6
references: 11289327
references: Eur J Respir Dis. 1987 Feb;70(2):93-8
references: 3817076
references: Ann Thorac Med. 2009 Oct;4(4):216-33
references: 19881170
references: Allergy. 2007 Feb;62(2):102-12
references: 17298416
references: Saudi Med J. 2008 May;29(5):714-7
references: 18454220
references: Nurs Stand. 2012 Jan 11-17;26(19):43-7
references: 22356065
references: Eur Respir J. 2008 Apr;31(4):790-9
references: 18094011
references: Respir Med. 2000 May;94(5):496-500
references: 10868714
references: Tuberk Toraks. 2013;61(3):183-92
references: 24298959
references: Eur Respir Rev. 2012 Mar 1;21(123):66-74
references: 22379176
references: Mayo Clin Proc. 2009 Aug;84(8):707-17
references: 19648388
references: Pneumonol Alergol Pol. 2012;80(3):198-208
references: 22562271
references: Aten Primaria. 2000 May 31;25(9):639-43
references: 10920519
references: Respir Med. 2006 Sep;100(9):1479-94
references: 16495040
references: Allergol Immunopathol (Madr). 2011 Mar-Apr;39(2):73-8
references: 21208716
references: Br J Gen Pract. 1990 Dec;40(341):505-6
references: 2282229
references: Eur Respir J. 2002 Feb;19(2):246-51
references: 11866004
references: Allergy. 2007 Feb;62(2):95-101
references: 17298415