Primary Care Physicians’ Knowledge and Self-Perceived Competence Regarding Chronic Kidney Disease Management in Jazan Province, Saudi Arabia: A Questionnaire-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Background and aim: Primary care physicians are central to the early detection and management of chronic kidney disease (CKD), yet knowledge gaps in this setting remain a global concern. This study assessed CKD-related knowledge and self-reported competence among primary healthcare physicians in Jazan Province, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to 233 physicians. Knowledge was evaluated using an 11-item questionnaire, and self-reported confidence was measured using a numerical rating scale. Results: The median number of correctly answered knowledge questions was 5 out of 11 (IQR 4–6), reflecting considerable variability in knowledge levels across the study population. While most participants correctly identified diabetes as the leading cause of CKD (91%) and recognized its asymptomatic nature (82.8%), significant deficiencies were identified in nephrology referral criteria (35.6%), microalbuminuria-based diagnosis (50.2%), and metformin discontinuation thresholds (58.8%). Notably, only 6.4% correctly identified finerenone as an approved agent for reducing CKD progression in diabetic kidney disease. The median self-reported confidence score was 7 (IQR 5–8). Higher confidence was significantly associated with greater CKD patient exposure (p = 0.001) and with higher knowledge scores (τ = 0.207; p < 0.0001). Conclusions: These findings highlight critical gaps and variability in CKD knowledge among primary care physicians and underscore the need for targeted educational interventions and system-level support to improve early CKD detection and management.