title: Knowledge, attitudes and practices of the medical personnel regarding atopic dermatitis in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
abstract: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, relapsing and pruritic inflammatory skin disease whose management remains unclear to most non-dermatologists. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of the medical staff regarding AD in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
  
  
  
  This was a cross-sectional study conducted from January to April 2014 in 20 health facilities located in Yaoundé, the capital city of Cameroon. All medical staff who provided their consent were included in the study. A score was established for each of the KAP categories, and subsequently grouped into 4 classes considering a score <50, 50-<65, 65-<85 or ≥85%, respectively.
  
  
  
  We enrolled 100 medical personnel, 62% of whom were females. Overall, the level of knowledge on AD was moderate (65%). Allergy was the main cause of AD, stated by 64% of participants. Only 43% personnel cited the genetic cause. Asthma was mentioned by 78% as an associated pathology. Regarding attitudes, the majority (84%) thought that AD is equally common among Black and Caucasian populations; 42% of participants believed that evolution is favorable when appropriate medical treatment is prescribed. These attitudes were considered wrong (64%). Similarly, the general level of practice was inadequate: 50%.
  
  
  
  Levels of knowledge, attitudes and practices of the medical staff regarding AD were poor, implying that management of this condition is non optimal in our setting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box: 8314, Yaoundé, Cameroon. kouotoea@yahoo.fr.|Yaoundé University Teaching Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon. kouotoea@yahoo.fr.|Biyem-Assi District Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon. kouotoea@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Emmanuel Armand
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Kouotou
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Jobert Richie N
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Nansseu
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box: 8314, Yaoundé, Cameroon.|Yaoundé University Teaching Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Alexandra Dominique
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Ngangue Engome
authors.affiliation: Yaoundé University Teaching Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon.|Department of Paediatrics and Specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Sandra Ayuk
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Tatah
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box: 8314, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Anne Cécile
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Zoung-Kanyi Bissek
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002163:Cameroon; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
keywords: Atopic dermatitis; Cameroon; KAP study; Medical staff