Beyond type 1 and type 2 diabetes: evaluating clinician knowledge and clinical practice regarding MODY in Saudi Arabia

Abstract Background Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) is a term used to describe any monogenic form of diabetes mellitus. The current prevalence of confirmed MODY cases is still scarce, and it is unknown if MODY is considered a distinct type of diabetes in Saudi clinical settings in main cities. Hence, the present study aimed to assess the knowledge and practice of physicians working at the Saudi public medical facilities in Riyadh regarding MODY. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2024 and March 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A validated questionnaire was used to assess knowledge and practice about MODY among physicians working in public medical facilities who used to screen, diagnose, and manage people at risk of diabetes or people known to have diabetes. Results A total of 333 physicians participated in the current study. More than 76% of the participating physicians had good knowledge about the MODY definition and features. However, the practice of MODY screening and its consideration in clinical diagnoses was found to be limited. About 22–27% of the physicians often consider the MODY diagnosis, ordering genetic testing and referring to a medical genetic consultant, while MODY screening as a practice was extremely low (9%). Multivariable logistic regression showed significant associations between MODY knowledge with physicians’ type of specialty ( P < 0.001). In addition, MODY practice was significantly associated with physicians’ sex ( P < 0.05), nationality ( P < 0.01), and type of specialty ( P < 0.05). Conclusion The current outcomes reveal considerable gaps in knowledge and varying clinical practice on MODY among physicians, including those who are recognized as gatekeepers working at primary healthcare services. The findings suggest a need for targeted educational interventions and clearer clinical guidance. Although the present study does not directly assess the impact of specific national policies or healthcare initiatives, larger studies are needed to validate these findings and further determine their potential relevance to the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.