Asthma knowledge assessment of primary healthcare physicians in Iraq

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess knowledge among primary healthcare (PHC) physicians about asthma in Iraq. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in Iraq. Data were collected from 400 physicians who completed the electronic asthma training course for four weeks starting in March 2023. This study used aconvenience sampling technique via email from participating physicians. A 15-item questionnaire based on the National Asthma Guideline for Primary Care Physicians was used to assess their knowledge about asthma. The Mann–Whitney test was used to compare knowledge scores based on gender, prior training in chronic respiratory disorders, and a personal history of bronchial asthma. The Kruskal–Wallis test was used to compare knowledge scores depending on the specialty and years of practice as a PHC doctor. Results: The mean age of the participating doctors was 32.5 years, 67.9% were female, and 32.1% were male. Overall, the participants’ knowledge score was poor at less than 70%. The Mann–Whitney test revealed no significant difference in the knowledge scores of the participating physicians depending on their gender, previous asthma training, or personal history of bronchial asthma. A significant difference was found when comparing the knowledge scores of participating physicians depending on their specialty and duration of practice as a PHC doctor. Conclusion: This study showed that PHC physicians’ knowledge about asthma based on the recommended national guidelines of Iraq was poor. Further research is required to examine the parameters associated with improving both understanding of asthma and compliance with the guidelines.