Approach of specialist physicians, assistant physicians and general physicians working in emergency departments in Diyarbakir province to patients with risky contact with rabies evaluation of the levels of knowledge about

Aim: Rabies virus is transmitted to humans mainly through the bite of an infected mammal. Morphologically, the rabies virus is characterised by its bullet-shaped appearance, which is typical of viruses in the Rhabdoviridae family. The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that rabies causes approximately 59,000 deaths annually. In general, the incubation period for rabies in humans varies between 20 and 90 days. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of knowledge and protection-treatment approaches of physicians working in the emergency department in Diyarbakır province towards patients with rabies risk contact. Method: Our study is a prospective survey study and a detailed questionnaire was applied to 147 physicians working in the emergency department in Diyarbakır province and their knowledge, skills and application levels were noted. Results: Of the 147 volunteer physicians who participated in our study, 60.5% were male, 73.5% were between the ages of 24-29, 74.1% were general practitioners, 68.0% worked in the 2nd level emergency services, 86.4% received training on approach to rabies risk contact, and 54.4% had read the guide. While female physicians knew the regions where rabies vaccine could be administered better, female physicians answered the immunoglobulin dose more correctly. Age, professional experience and institutions of employment significantly affected the rate of correct answers to the questions. Especially as education and experience increased, the level of knowledge increased. These results suggest that awareness and education about rabies should be strengthened in all physician groups. Conclusion: In the general results of the study, it was determined that the knowledge, skills and practices of physicians were not at an adequate level in accordance with the literature. In order to increase the knowledge and skills of physicians about rabies, comprehensive trainings, guide awareness, practical applications and inter-institutional co-operation should be encouraged. Deficiencies should be identified through post-training evaluations and continuous professional development should be supported. Keywords: Rabies, Prevention, Doctor, Knowledge.