Volume 27, Issue 131, January 2023

Clinical competence of primary healthcare practitioner to recognize psoriatic arthritis

Ahmad Alkhdairi^1♦, Khalid F Almutairi¹, Hamad M Alhomaidan¹, Osama A Alharbi¹, Ibrahim N Almutairi¹, Khalid O Almutairi¹, Ayman A Alharbi², Sami Alrasheedi¹,Mousa Alrashdi¹, Feras Aljameeli¹

¹Department of Medicine, Unaizah College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Unaizah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
²Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Buraydah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

^♦Corresponding author
Department of Medicine, Unaizah College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Unaizah, KSA ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6913-040X

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a common form of seronegative spondyloarthropathy spectrum. It is an autoimmune-mediated chronic inflammatory musculoskeletal disease that may occur in association with Psoriasis. This disease is often characterized by symptoms of pain, swelling and stiffness around the joints of the patient. Aim: This study aimed to determine primary healthcare practitioners' knowledge of the PsA symptoms and diagnosis in the Qassim region of Saudi Arabia. Subjects and methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in the Saudi Arabian province of Qassim. Utilizing a cluster random sampling method, an electronic questionnaire that was self-administered was given to the participants. The survey asked about sociodemographic information, knowledge of various PsA criteria, classification, presentations, joint involvement and PsA consequences. Results: Of the 78 primary healthcare practitioners involved, half of them (50%) were in the younger age group (<35 years). Nearly 60% were general practitioners. The overall mean knowledge score was 3.96 (SD 1.89) with 38.5% of physicians considered as having poor knowledge, 33.3% moderate and 28.2% considered as having a good knowledge level. Factors associated with increased knowledge was being a non-general practitioner and having previous experience in rheumatology service. Conclusion: Primary healthcare providers lacked understanding of the complications and diagnostic standards for individuals with psoriatic arthritis. Compared to the other doctors, non-general practitioners with prior rheumatological experience were likely to demonstrate a greater awareness of disease consequences and diagnosis. To into more detail on primary healthcare providers understand of the PsA problem, more is needed.

Keywords: Psoriatic arthritis, general practitioner, primary healthcare practitioner, knowledge, complication

Medical Science, 2023, 27, e36ms2802

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi/v27i131/e36ms2802

Published: 11 January 2023