The Silent Threat: Assessing Future Physicians’ Readiness to Identify and Manage Obstructive Sleep Apnea – A Regional Perspective

Abstract Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common yet underdiagnosed sleep disorder associated with significant morbidity. Insufficient knowledge among healthcare professionals may contribute to delayed diagnosis and suboptimal management. This study aims to assess the knowledge and attitudes toward OSA among undergraduate medical students and interns at Al-Baha Faculty of Medicine, Saudi Arabia. Subjects and Methods: This observational, cross-sectional study was conducted between September and October 2024. A total of 268 clinical year medical students and interns were recruited using a convenience sampling method. Data were collected through the validated OSA Knowledge and Attitudes (OSAKA) questionnaire, which assessed OSA knowledge, perceived importance, and confidence in managing OSA. Descriptive statistics, independent t -tests, and one-way analysis of variance were used for the analysis. Results: The mean overall knowledge score was 8.0 ± 4.4 out of 18, indicating limited knowledge. Although 91.7% of participants recognized OSA as an important condition, only 38.4% felt confident managing OSA patients. Age, academic year, and completion of the otorhinolaryngology module were significantly associated with both knowledge and attitude scores ( P = 0.05). Conclusion: Despite a generally positive attitude, knowledge gaps in OSA remain evident, reflecting the global trend of low OSA awareness among healthcare professionals. These findings highlight the urgent need to integrate structured sleep medicine education into medical curricula. Future research should address study limitations and explore educational interventions to enhance clinical competence in OSA diagnosis and management.