Stroke intervention and pharmacotherapy guidelines: Knowledge-to-practice translation gaps among the emergency resident physicians in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Razan Mohammed Algarni; Mansoor M Albarrak; Abdulaziz M Alomaysh; Ahmed A Morsi; Chen Lin; Enas Saad Almowalad; Mohamed H Bahr

doi:10.1016/j.jocn.2023.02.013

Stroke intervention and pharmacotherapy guidelines: Knowledge-to-practice translation gaps among the emergency resident physicians in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

J Clin Neurosci. 2023 Apr:110:109-115. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2023.02.013. Epub 2023 Feb 28.

Authors

Razan Mohammed Algarni¹, Mansoor M Albarrak², Abdulaziz M Alomaysh³, Ahmed A Morsi⁴, Chen Lin⁵, Enas Saad Almowalad¹, Mohamed H Bahr⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neuroscience, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
² Department of Emergency Medicine, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
³ Department of Critical Care, King Salman Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
⁴ Histology and Cell Biology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt. Electronic address: aaa21@fayoum.edu.eg.
⁵ Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, United States.
⁶ Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt; Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Vision Colleges, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

PMID: 36863126
DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2023.02.013

Abstract

Translating the updated medical guidelines into routine clinical practice is an important initiative to improve the population's health and decrease disease outcomes. A cross-sectional survey-based study was conducted in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia, to evaluate the knowledge and degree of application (practice) of the stroke management guidelines among emergency resident physicians. An interview-based self-administered questionnaire was used to survey the emergency resident doctors in Riyadh hospitals from May 2019 to January 2020. Of 129 participants, 78 valid, complete responses were obtained (60.5% response rate). Descriptive statistics, principle component, and correlation analyses were used. Most resident doctors were men(69.4%) with a mean age of 28.4±3.37 years. More than 60% of the residents were satisfied with their knowledge of the stroke guidelines; meanwhile, 46.2% were satisfied with their application of the guidelines. Both Knowledge and practice compliance components were significantly and positively correlated. Also, both components were significantly correlated with being updated, aware of, and strictly following these guidelines. The mini-test challenge showed a negative result with a mean knowledge score of 1.03±0.88. Even though the majority of participants utilized different tools of education and were aware of the American Stroke Association Guidelines. It was concluded that a considerable gap in the residents' knowledge regarding the current stroke management guidelines was present in Saudi hospitals. Also, it was reflected on their actual implementation and application into clinical practice. Continuous medical education, training, and follow-up of the emergency resident doctors, administered as a part of the government health programs, are crucial to improve the health care delivery for acute stroke patients.

Keywords: Acute stroke delivery care; Emergency physicians; Knowledge deficit; Survey-based study; Translational research.

MeSH terms

Adult
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Humans
Male
Physicians*
Saudi Arabia
Stroke* / therapy