Attitudes and knowledge among general practitioners in Hong Kong about obstructive sleep apnoea

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to examine the attitude and knowledge about obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) among general practitioners in Hong Kong. Method: All doctors working in the general out-patient clinics of the Kowloon West Cluster in Kowloon, Hong Kong were recruited. The exclusion criteria excluded hospital-based trainees who only attend the outpatient clinics once a week. Attitudes and knowledge of OSA and the demographic data of doctors were collected. The answers to each question about knowledge of obstructive sleep apnoea were marked to calculate a total score. Results: A total of 168 questionnaires were distributed and 118 valid questionnaires were received. The response rate was 70.2%. The mean total knowledge score was 13.8 +/- 1.6, with the scores ranging from 0 to 17. The total correct score ratio was 81%. The total knowledge score and the confidence score had no significant differences across the respondents’ gender, duration of practice in GOPC, duration from graduation and professional status (p>0.05). The attitude score demonstrated a significant difference in the respondents’ duration of graduation (p= 0.026). There was a positive correlation between knowledge and confidence (p= 0.026), and a positive correlation between attitude and confidence (p= 0.005) by Spearman’s rho correlation. Attitude was positively correlated to confidence with the Linear regression’s coefficient = 0.225 +/- 0.09. Conclusions: Doctors did not appear to completely recognise the importance and the impact of obstructive sleep apnoea. They had low confidence in identifying and managing patients with OSA. Family doctors need to improve their attitude and confidence with regards to obstructive sleep apnoea in order to increase their detection of sleep disorders; and their number of referrals, provision and proper treatment and prevention of complications.