Do Primary Care Providers in Saudi Arabia Have Sufficient Knowledge to Support COPD Management and Patient Education? A National Cross-Sectional Survey

Rayan A Siraj,1 Ahmed M Al Rajeh,1 Maryam M Almulhem,1 Mushabbab A Alahmari,2,3 Abdulelah M Aldhahir,4 Abdullah A Alqarni,5,6 Jaber S Alqahtani,7 Saeed M Alghamdi,8 Nowaf Y Alobaidi,9,10 Abdullah Alruwaili,10,11 Saleh S Algarni,12,13 Abdulrhman S Alghamdi,14 Mohammed M Alyami,15 Majed Rzaiq Alrhaili,16 Nawaf A Alsolami17 1Department of Respiratory Therapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Faisal University, Al Ahasa, Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Respiratory Therapy, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Bisha, Bisha, Saudi Arabia; 3Health and Humanities Research Center, University of Bisha, Bisha, Saudi Arabia; 4Respiratory Therapy Program, Department of Nursing, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia; 5Department of Respiratory Therapy, Faculty of Medical Rehabilitation Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 6Respiratory Therapy Unit, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 7Department of Respiratory Care, Prince Sultan Military College of Health Sciences, Dammam, Saudi Arabia; 8Clinical Technology Department, Respiratory Care Program, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, 21961, Saudi Arabia; 9Department of Respiratory Therapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Alahsa, 31982, Saudi Arabia; 10King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Al Ahsa, 31982, Saudi Arabia; 11Emergency Medical Services program, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia; 12Department of Respiratory Therapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 13King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, 12271, Saudi Arabia; 14Department of Rehabilitation Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 15Respiratory Therapy Department, Batterjee Medical College, Khamis Mushait, Saudi Arabia; 16Department of Respiratory Care, Dawadmi General Hospital, Riyadh Third Health Cluster, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 17Department of Respiratory Care, King Abdullah Medical Complex, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Rayan A Siraj, Department of Respiratory Therapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Faisal University, Al Ahsa, 31982, Saudi Arabia, Email [email protected]: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Evidence-based education is critical for improving healthcare professionals’ knowledge and promoting optimal clinical practice. However, no study has evaluated COPD-related knowledge among primary healthcare professionals in Saudi Arabia. Thus, this study aimed to assess the level of COPD knowledge in this group and to identify factors associated with higher scores.Methods: An online cross-sectional survey was conducted from October 2024 to May 2025 among licensed primary healthcare providers in Saudi Arabia, using the Bristol COPD Knowledge Questionnaire (BCKQ). One-way ANOVA was used to compare mean scores across demographic and professional groups, followed by multivariable linear regression to identify independent factors of knowledge.Results: A total of 1686 responses were received, of which 92 incomplete submissions were excluded, leaving 1594 fully completed questionnaires for analysis. Nurses accounted for 40.4%, general practitioners for 35.8%, and family medicine physicians for 24.0%. The mean (SD) total BCKQ score was 28.2 ± 8.15 out of 65 (43.4%), indicating moderate knowledge overall. The highest-scoring domain was Phlegm (2.96 ± 1.39), while the lowest was Inhaled Steroids (1.26 ± 0.86). Significant differences in knowledge were observed by profession (p = 0.004), region (p = 0.001), workplace (p < 0.001), clinic type (p < 0.001), prior COPD training (p = 0.010), and self-reported knowledge (p < 0.001). In multivariable linear regression, self-reported adequate knowledge (β = 3.99; p < 0.001), prior COPD training (β = 1.89; p = 0.011), and being a family medicine physician versus a general practitioner (β = 1.99; p = 0.027) were independently associated with higher knowledge.Conclusion: Primary healthcare professionals in Saudi Arabia showed moderate COPD knowledge, with gaps in prevention and pharmacological management. Higher scores were linked to prior COPD training, self-reported adequate knowledge, and being a family medicine physician. Expanding structured, evidence-based training could address these gaps and enhance COPD care nationwide.Keywords: COPD, primary care, knowledge questionnaire, education