Evaluation of knowledge levels in the recognition and management of allergic diseases of family physicians working in family health centers in İzmir

Objective: The term allergy is used in cases where increased reactivity of the immune system results in hypersensitivity in response to external or foreign substances. The prevalence of allergic diseases in the world is increasing dramatically in both developed and developing countries. Previous studies have shown that physicians fail to recognize allergic symptoms and manage allergic diseases. The aim of this study was to measure the level of knowledge of family physicians working in family health centers in İzmir to recognize and manage allergic diseases. Method: The universe of this cross-sectional analytical study is all family physicians working in family health centers in central districts in İzmir . It is aimed to apply the Allergic Disease Management Knowledge Level Questionnaire and sociodemographic data questionnaire prepared by the researcher by taking expert opinions with Delphi method to 268 physicians selected by cluster sampling method. Each family health center in the 11 central districts of İzmir city center was accepted as a cluster and 54 original and 6 substitute family health centers were selected. In case of voluntariness, questionnaires were applied by face to face interviews with family physicians. Results: All selected family health centers were visited and 222 physicians agreed to participate in the survey. 208 questionnaires were included in the study. Of the 208 participants included in the study, 39.4% (82) were female and 60.6% (126) were male, and the mean age was 50.34 ± 6.90 (min: 27, max: 66). Mean age of the participants was 24,69 ± 6,09 (min: 1, max: 40). The mean number of patients consulted to the outpatient clinics in the last week was 304.7 ± 118.6 (min: 10, max: 600). The mean number of patients consulted to the outpatient clinics with any allergic complaints in the last week was 18.43 ± 21.9 (min: 0, max: 200). 51% (106) of the participants stated that they did not participate in any educational activities about allergic diseases. The average score of 202 family physicians who participated in our study was 59.81. While age (r = -0.144, p = 0.038), and participation in an education activity (p = 0.01) had a statistically significant effect on the total score, gender (p = 0.91), the working years as physician (r = -0.09, p = 0.19), the number of patients who applied to their outpatient clinics with allergic complaints in the last week (r = 0.08, p = 0.25), the number of patients who applied to their outpatient clinics with any complaints in the last week (r = 0, 10, p = 0.14), title (p = 0.09), allergic disease status (p = 0.05), family history of atopy (p = 0.26) did not have a statistically significant effect on the total score. Conclusion: The knowledge level of primary care physicians who participated in our study about allergic disease management was insufficient. Allergic disease management knowledge levels were high in those attending any educaiton. Specialist family physicians had higher knowledge of allergic disease diagnosis and communication. It was determined that communication knowledge levels of family physicians decreased with age and working year.