Assessing KAP of primary care physicians in Lebanon in screening for sudden cardiac arrest in youth

Sudden cardiac arrest is a major cause of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in youth, including athletes and nonathletes. In Lebanon, the survival rate after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in individuals <35 years old is only 16.7%. We aim to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of primary care physicians in Lebanon regarding screening for SCD risk factors in youth. A cross-sectional survey was distributed to general practitioners, pediatricians, and family medicine physicians across Lebanon. The questionnaire, based on American Heart Association guidelines, assessed physician knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward screening for SCD in athletes and nonathletes. Sixty-eight physicians completed the survey (49% male; 68% >50 years old; 53% general practitioners (GPs), 32% pediatricians, 15% family doctors). Family doctors had the highest mean knowledge score (1.9), followed by GPs (1.56). Attitude assessment showed that 70% of family physicians, 58.3% of GPs, and 59.1% of pediatricians believed there is sufficient screening for SCD risk factors in young adults. Practice assessment using American Heart Association criteria showed mean scores of 12.4 for family doctors and pediatricians and 10.9 for GPs. While awareness and knowledge of SCD among Lebanese primary care physicians are moderate, they are not consistently translated into clinical practice. These findings underscore the need for targeted education, implementation of standardized screening protocols, and further research to address this gap.