title: Knowledge of and attitudes towards electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) among psychiatrists and family physicians in Saudi Arabia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the knowledge of and attitudes towards ECT among psychiatrists and family physicians in Saudi Arabia.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study is quantitative observational cross-sectional with a convenient sample that included psychiatrists and family physicians (including residents) in Saudi Arabia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 434 questionnaires emailed, a total of 126 returned completed questionnaires (29% response rate). The mean age of respondents was 35 years old. Psychiatrists accounted for 68.3%. The majority were Saudis (95.2%) and male (70.6%). Around half were consultants and about two-thirds (62.7%) had worked in a facility that used ECT. Psychiatrists showed better knowledge than family physicians in their answers, with a mean total knowledge scoring of 8.12 (±1.25) out of 10 and 6.15 (±1.25), respectively (P< 0.0001). Among psychiatrists, 87% thought that ECT required general anesthesia, while 35% of family physicians believed so (P< 0.0001). Other items of ECT knowledge are discussed. Psychiatrists displayed a better attitude towards ECT than family physicians in all answers, with a mean score of 9.54 (±1.16) and 7.85 (±2.39), respectively (P< 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Psychiatrists scored better than family physicians in both knowledge and attitude regarding ECT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, King Saud University, King Saud University Medical City, PO Box 242069, Riyadh, 11322 Saudi Arabia.|SABIC Psychological Health Research & Applications Chair (SPHRAC), College of Medicine, King Saud University, King Saud University Medical City, PO Box 242069, Riyadh, 11322 Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ahmad N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: AlHadi
authors.affiliation: Family Medicine Department, King Abdulaziz Medical City, National Guard, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.|College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Fahad M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: AlShahrani
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, King Saud University Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ali A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Alshaqrawi
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohanned A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sharefi
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Saud M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Almousa
keywords: Attitude; ECT; Electroconvulsive therapy; Family physician; Knowledge; Psychiatrist; Saudi Arabia