Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of primary health care physicians, junior doctors, and medical college students towards autism in Duhok, Iraq

Berivan Othman Rashid; Perjan Hashim Taha

doi:10.15218/zjms.2021.013

Authors

Berivan Othman Rashid Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Duhok, Duhok, Iraq
Perjan Hashim Taha Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Duhok, Duhok, Iraq

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15218/zjms.2021.013

Keywords:

KAP, Physicians, Medical, students, Autism

Abstract

Background and objective: The knowledge of autism spectrum disorder among physicians and medical students is limited. This study aimed to find out the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices of primary health care physicians, junior doctors, and 6^th year medical college students in Duhok province, Iraqi Kurdistan toward autism spectrum disorder.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out from September 10^th until October 30^th, 2016. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Two hundred and two questionnaires were completed by the three participants’ groups. Data analysis was carried out using the statistical analysis system (SAS, version 9.4).

Results: Of the 202 participants, 24.8% were sixth year medical students, others were junior doctors (35.6%) and primary health care physicians (39.6%). Of them, 51.5% were females and 48.5% were males. High percentages (90.1% and 91.1%) of respondents heard and knew about autism spectrum disorder, respectively. They showed poor information on identification and management. Primary health care physicians had more knowledge on the genetic basis of autism (P <0.001) and behavioral therapy for autism (P = 0.016). No significant differences in knowledge was found between both gender groups except that female participants had limited knowledge on its genetic basis (P = 0.007).

Conclusion: Although primary health care physicians, rotators, and medical students generally heard about autism spectrum disorder, they had limited knowledge of its diagnosis and management. It is recommended to introduce autistic disorders lectures to the medical college curriculum and training of physicians by experienced professionals.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Hodges B, Inch C, Silver I. Improving the psychiatric knowledge, skills, and attitudes of primary care physicians, 1950-2000: A review. Am J Psychiatry 2001; 158(10):1579–86.

Ndetei DM, Khasakhala LI, Mutiso V, Mbwayo AW. Knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of mental illness among staff in general medical facilities in Kenya: practice and policy implications. Afr J Psychiatry 2011; 14(3):225–35.

Chisholm D, Sekar K, Kumar KK, Saeed K, James S, Mubbashar M, et al. Integration of Mental Health Care into Primary Care. Demonstration cost-outcome study in India and Pakistan. Br J Psychiatry 2000; 176(6):581–8.

American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5thed. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Association; 2013. P. 50–4.

Van-Cong T, Weiss B, Toan KN, Le-Thu TT, Trang NT, Hoa NT, et al. Early identification and intervention services for children with autism in Vietnam. Heal Psychol Rep 2016; 3(3):191–200.

Johnson CP, Myers SM. Identification and evaluation of children with autism spectrum disorders. Pediatrics 2007; 120(5):1183–215.

Fombonne E, Quirke S, Hagen A. Epidemiology of Pervasive Developmental Disorders. In: Amaral D, Geschwind D, Dawson G, editors. Autism Spectr Disord. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press; 2011. P. 90–111.

Ramaswamy R, Shidhaye R, Nanda S. Making complex interventions work in low resource settings: developing and applying a design focused implementation approach to deliver mental health through primary care in India Background and context. Int J Ment Health Syst 2018; 12:5.

Manning-courtney P, Murray D, Currans K, Johnson H, Bing N, Kroeger-Geoppinger K, et al. Autism spectrum disorders. Curr Probl Pediatr Adolesc Health Care 2013; 43(1):2–11.

Filipek PA, Accardo PJ, Ashwal S, Baranek GT, Cook EH, Dawson G, et al. Practice parameter: Screening and diagnosis of autism Report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology and the Child. Neurology 2000; 55(4):468–79.

Warren Z, McPheeters ML, Sathe N, Foss-Feig JH, Glasser A, Veenstra-VanderWeele J. Systematic review of early intensive intervention for autism spectrum disorders. Pediatrics 2011; 127(5):e1303–11.

Zwaigenbaum L, Bryson S, Lord C, Rogers S, Carter A, Carver L, et al. Clinical assessment and management of toddlers with suspected autism spectrum disorder: Insights from studies of high-risk infants. Pediatrics 2009; 123(5):1383–91.

Heidgerken AD, Geffken G, Modi A, Frakey L. A survey of autism knowledge in a health care setting. J Autism Dev Disord 2005; 35(3):323–30.

Igwe MN, Ahanotu AC, Bakare MO, Achor JU, Igwe C. Assessment of knowledge about childhood autism among paediatric and psychiatric nurses in Ebonyi state, Nigeria. Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health 2011; 5:1.

Lian WB, Ho SK, Yeo CL, Ho LY. General practitioners’ knowledge on childhood developmental and behavioural disorders. Singapore Med J 2003; 44(8):397–403.

Bakare MO, Ebigbo PO, Agomoh AO, Eaton J, Onyeama GM, Okonkwo KO, et al. Knowledge about childhood autism and opinion among healthcare workers on availability of facilities and law caring for the needs and rights of children with childhood autism and other developmental disorders in Nigeria. BMC Pediatr 2009; 9:12.

Bakare MO, Ebigbo PO, Agomoh AO, Menkiti NC. Knowledge about childhood autism among health workers (KCAHW) questionnaire: Description, reliability and internal consistency. Clin Pract Epidemiol Ment Heal 2008; 4(1):17.

Zwaanswijk M, Verhaak PF, van der Ende J, Bensing JM, Verhulst FC. Consultation for and identification of child and adolescent psychological problems in Dutch general practice. Fam Pract 2005; 22(5):498–506.

Igwe MN,Bakare MO, Agomoh AO, Onyeama GM, OkonkwoKO. Factors influencing knowledge about childhood autism among final year undergraduate Medical , Nursing and Psychology students of University ofNigeria, Enugu State, Nigeria. Ital J Pediatr 2010; 36:44.

Khan F, Shehzad R, Chaudhry H. Child and adolescent mental health services in Pakistan: current situation, future directions and possible solutions. Int Psychiatry 2008; 5(4):86–8.

Hussein S. A review of global issues and prevalence of child mental health Problems; Where does CAMH stand in Pakistan. J Pakistan Psychiatr Soc 2009; 6(1):5–13.

Rhoades RA, Scarpa A, Salley B. The importance of physician knowledge of autism spectrum disorder: Results of a parent survey. BMC Pediatr 2007; 7:37.

Eseigbe EE, Nuhu FT, Sheikh TL, Eseigbe P, Sanni KA, Olisah VO. Knowledge of childhood autism and challenges of management among medical doctors in Kaduna State, Northwest Nigeria. Autism Res Treat 2015; 892301.

Bakare MO, Agomoh AO, Ebigbo PO, Eaton J, Okonkwo KO, Onwukwe JU, et al. Etiological explanation, treatability and preventability of childhood autism: A survey of Nigerian healthcare workers’ opinion. Ann Gen Psychiatry 2009; 8:6.

Rohanachandra YM, Dahanayake DA, Rohanachandra LT, Wijetunge GS. Knowledge about diagnostic features and comorbidities of childhood autism among doctors in a tertiary care hospital. Sri Lanka J Child Health 2017; 46(1):29–32.

Goldberg WA, Osann K, Filipek PA, Laulhere T, Jarvis K, Modahl C, et al. Language and other regression: Assessment and timing. J Autism Dev Disord 2003; 33(6):607–16.

Imran N, Chaudry MR, Azeem MW, Bhatti MR, Choudhary ZI, Cheema MA. A survey of Autism knowledge and attitudes among the healthcare professionals in Lahore, Pakistan. BMC Pediatr 2011; 11:107.