Primary care physicians' knowledge of sleep medicine and barriers to transfer of patients with sleep disorders. A cross-sectional study.

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Abstract

To assess primary care physicians' (PCPs) knowledge and attitudes toward sleep disorders. Methods: In this cross-sectional quantitative study, we surveyed 88 primary care centers under the Ministry of Health during 2015 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, using a combination of pre-designed validated questionnaires. Knowledge was assessed using the Assessment of Sleep Knowledge in Medical Education (ASKME) questionnaire, and attitude was assessed using a pre-designed survey. For numerical variables, t-test was used, and for categorical variables, Chi-square test was used. Results: Data from 223 PCPs (males 50.2%) were analyzed. Among the participants, 44 (19.9%) did not know that sleep medicine is a distinct medical specialty, and 24 (10.9%) felt that sleep disorders are uncommon medical problems based on their daily practice. Only 87 (39%) of physicians stated that they referred patients with sleep disorders to specialized medical centers for further management. The mean score of the ASKME questionnaire was 14.4 ± 4 out of 30 (48%). The majority of physicians (78.5%) obtained a score between 11 and 20. Score results were not related to gender or years of practice. Conclusion: Primary care physicians' have a low level of awareness and poor knowledge of sleep medicine and sleep disorders.

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Primary care: is there enough time for prevention?

K Krause, Truls Østbye, J. Michener … (2003)

We sought to determine the amount of time required for a primary care physician to provide recommended preventive services to an average patient panel. We used published and estimated times per service to determine the physician time required to provide all services recommended by the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), at the recommended frequency, to a patient panel of 2500 with an age and sex distribution similar to that of the US population. To fully satisfy the USPSTF recommendations, 1773 hours of a physician's annual time, or 7.4 hours per working day, is needed for the provision of preventive services. Time constraints limit the ability of physicians to comply with preventive services recommendations.

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Evaluation of sleep disorders in the primary care setting: history taking compared to questionnaires.

Dennis Auckley, Jaividhya Dasarathy, Egambaram Senthilvel (2011)

The objective of this study was to determine if primary care providers (PCPs) screen for sleep disorders during clinical evaluation of new patients, and to compare this to likely sleep diagnoses as assessed by validated questionnaires. Adult patients evaluated as new patients in a primary care clinic at a tertiary care center were included in a prospective study. Following their appointment, patients completed the Cleveland Sleep Habits questionnaire (CSHQ), Berlin questionnaire, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and STOP questionnaire. The encounters were subsequently reviewed for elements of a sleep history, sleep review of systems, and/or sleep workup. 101 patients participated in the study. 58 (52%) females, mean age 38 ± 12.9 years, body mass index (BMI) 29.5 ± 8.3 kg/m² (BMI > 30 kg/m² in 44%), 46% Caucasian, 38% African American, 11% Hispanic, and 5% other. House staff evaluated 57.4%; faculty evaluated the remainder. The ESS was > 10 in 28% of subjects. High risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) risk was found in 33% (Berlin) and 34% (STOP) (24.8% by both). The CSHQ suggested possible diagnoses of insomnia in 30% and restless legs syndrome in 22%. In the clinic encounters, a limited sleep history was found in 24.8%, documentation of a sleep disorder in 8.9%, referral to sleep clinic in 2%, and referral to psychiatry clinic in 6.9%. Symptoms suggestive of sleep disorders are common but are not routinely screened for in the primary care setting. Validated questionnaires can efficiently identify patients at risk for common sleep disorders in this setting.

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Is Open Access

Sleep medicine in Saudi Arabia: Current problems and future challenges

Ahmed BaHammam (2011)

Sleep medicine is a relatively new specialty in the medical community. The practice of sleep medicine in Saudi Arabia (KSA) began in the mid to late nineties. Since its inception, the specialty has grown, and the number of specialists has increased. Nevertheless, sleep medicine is still underdeveloped in the KSA, particularly in the areas of clinical service, education, training and research. Based on available data, it appears that sleep disorders are prevalent among Saudis, and the demand for sleep medicine service is expected to rise significantly in the near future. A number of obstacles have been defined that hinder the progress of the specialty, including a lack of trained technicians, specialists and funding. Awareness about sleep disorders and their serious consequences is low among health care workers, health care authorities, insurance companies and the general public. A major challenge for the future is penetrating the educational system at all levels to demonstrate the high prevalence and serious consequences of sleep disorders. To attain adequate numbers of staff and facilities, the education and training of health care professionals at the level of sleep medicine specialists and sleep technologists is another important challenge that faces the specialty. This review discusses the current position of sleep medicine as a specialty in the KSA and the expected challenges of the future. In addition, it will guide clinicians interested in setting up new sleep medicine services in the KSA or other developing countries through the potential obstacles that may face them in this endeavor.