Assessment of factors influencing the contribution of primary healthcare physicians in prevention of type 2 diabetes in South of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: This study was aiming to assess factors influencing the contribution of primary healthcare physicians concerning prevention of type 2 diabetes in the Jazan region, south of Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess physicians’ knowledge about evidence-based guidelines concerning diabetes prevention, their attitude towards lifestyle interventions and their practice concerning screening and provision of lifestyle interventions in their clinics. Interviews were conducted to complete a semi-structured questionnaire. Data analysis involved reviewing open-ended responses of physicians followed by quantitative analysis to assess level of knowledge, attitudes, and practice adherence. Results: A total of 234 physicians from 127 primary healthcare centres (PHCs) in the region were recruited. Knowledge of evidence-based clinical indicators for the prevention of diabetes was limited (mean level of knowledge 3.14/8 [SD: 1.2)]. Recruited physicians did have a positive overall attitude to the influence of lifestyle/behavioural therapy on the prevention of type 2 diabetes. The physicians narrated a variety of factors that might influence the effectiveness of this approach, which were related to the community, the patients and the physicians themselves. Only the association between gender of physicians and their levels of knowledge was statistically significant where odds of greater knowledge were higher among female physicians in comparison to males (odds ratio : 1.8, P value = 0.025). Conclusion: Most of the physicians in our sample were misinformed about the components of lifestyle/behavioural interventions for diabetes prevention, which mandates designing and implementing lifestyle medicine programmes for the PHC physicians in Jazan region.

‘Nutrition has everything to do with wound healing’—health professionals' perceptions of assessment and management of nutrition in individuals with diabetes‐related foot ulceration

“…Lack of time and knowledge were key barriers identified by health professionals for conducting nutrition assessment and providing dietary management. This finding is consistent with previous research in individuals with type 2 diabetes, with multiple studies also confirming that time and lack of expertise can inhibit care in this population 49,50 . The lack of knowledge identified in the current study was also the perception of a lack of clinical guidance and high‐level evidence for the effectiveness of nutrition intervention in DFU.…”

“…This finding is consistent with previous research in individuals with type 2 diabetes, with multiple studies also confirming that time and lack of expertise can inhibit care in this population. 49 , 50 The lack of knowledge identified in the current study was also the perception of a lack of clinical guidance and high‐level evidence for the effectiveness of nutrition intervention in DFU. This perception was despite the published ‘Nutrition Interventions in Adults with Diabetes Foot Ulcers Expert Consensus and Guidance’.…”