Title:Assessment of Knowledge and Perception of Sodium-Glucose Co-transporter 2 (SGLT-2) Inhibitors Prescription among Physicians in Saudi Arabia
Volume: 20
Issue: 4
Author(s): Mohammed Somaili*, Omar Oraibia, Majed Darraj, Amal Hassan, Esaam Moafa, Abdulrahman Kulaybi, Sahar Shubayli, Razan Moafa, Ghadah Mghfori, Afaf Jaafari and Majed Somily
Affiliation:
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
Keywords:
Knowledge, attitude, sodium-glucose co-transporter inhibitors, type 2 diabetes mellitus, standard deviation
Abstract: Background: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors are a new class of medications
that have been proven to improve both glycemic control and cardio-renal outcomes. The
knowledge, attitude, and perception toward their prescriptions in Jazan, Saudi Arabia, are still unknown.
Objective: The study aimed to measure the level of knowledge and attitude toward sodium-glucose
cotransporter 2 inhibitors prescription among physicians in the Jazan region, Saudi Arabia.
Methods: Data analysis was performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, SPSS 23rd
version. Frequency and percentages were used to display categorical variables. Minimum, maximum,
mean, and standard deviation were used to test numerical variables. Independent t-test and
ANOVA test were both utilized to test the factors associated with knowledge and attitude toward
the use of SGLT-2 inhibitors.
Results: A total of 65 participants were included in the study. 26.2% had a low knowledge level,
30.8% had a moderate knowledge level, and 43.1% had a high knowledge level of sodium-glucose
cotransporter 2 inhibitors. 9.2% had a low attitude level, 43.1% had a moderate attitude level, and
47.7% had a high attitude level toward sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors. Age, professional
status, years of experience, and specialty were significantly associated with attitude but not with
the knowledge of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors prescription.
Conclusion: While the study cohort scored high in the knowledge and attitude domains of the survey,
a large proportion failed to answer very essential questions in type 2 diabetes management.
An educational awareness program needs to be carried out to strengthen the physicians’ knowledge
of SGLT2 inhibitors prescription.
