# Assessment of knowledge of primary healthcare physicians in the western region of Saudi Arabia about Hidradenitis Suppurativa

## TL;DR

This study assesses primary healthcare physicians' knowledge of Hidradenitis Suppurativa in Saudi Arabia's Western Region and finds that less than half have good knowledge.

## Contribution

The study identifies demographic and professional factors influencing knowledge levels of Hidradenitis Suppurativa among primary healthcare physicians.

## Key findings

- 79.2% of physicians were aware of Hidradenitis Suppurativa, but only 47.2% demonstrated good knowledge.
- Female physicians, older physicians, and those with more experience showed significantly better knowledge.
- Only 33% of participants had previously diagnosed a case of Hidradenitis Suppurativa.

## Abstract

Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) is a relatively common chronic inflammatory skin disorder. Early identification by primary healthcare (PHC) physicians plays a crucial role in preventing its adverse outcomes.

To assess the knowledge of primary healthcare physicians in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia regarding HS and identify the determinants influencing their knowledge level.

A cross-sectional study was conducted among randomly selected PHC physicians working in the cities of Jeddah, Makkah, and Taif. A valid and reliable self-administered online questionnaire was used for data collection.

A total of 106 PHC physicians participated in the study, with ages ranging from 26 to 48 years. The majority (79.2%) were aware of HS. The most frequently reported source of information was a diagnosed patient (64.3%). Overall, 47.2% of participants demonstrated a good level of knowledge regarding HS. Female physicians (p = 0.043), those over 35 years of age (p = 0.001), family medicine consultants (p < 0.001), physicians with more than 10 years of clinical experience (p = 0.008), and those who had seen more than five dermatological cases per day (p = 0.019) were significantly more knowledgeable. Most participants assigned the responsibility for diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of HS cases to dermatologists, followed by surgeons or PHC physicians. About one-third (33%) had previously diagnosed a case of HS.

Although most PHC physicians in Western Saudi Arabia were aware of HS, less than half demonstrated a good level of knowledge, and only one-third had ever diagnosed a case. These findings highlight the need to implement targeted dermatology education programs for PHC physicians.