Objective: This study aimed to assess family physicians’ knowledge and screening practices for psoriasis comorbidities in Saudi Arabia.
Methods: This was a questionnaire-based cross-sectional study conducted on primary care physicians (PCPs) in Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire included sociodemographic data, years of practice, titles of their positions, level of knowledge of psoriasis, number of patients with psoriasis visiting their clinics, and screening practices for psoriatic comorbidities.
Results: Among the 497 participants, 63.3% had seen at least 1-5 patients with psoriasis per week over the last year, and 55.5% had never or rarely made a new psoriasis diagnosis. Among the PCPs, 24.1% recognized that psoriasis was difficult to treat, 50.9% thought psoriasis significantly affects the quality of life (QoL), whereas 65.2% believed that only mild-to-moderate cases could be treated in primary care clinics. Among the challenges reported in assessing and managing psoriasis, 40.6% were related to a lack of knowledge or experience in using topical or systemic medications. A significant association (p-value = 0.001) was found between PCPs who had seen at least five patients with psoriasis per week and were more likely to think that psoriasis was not difficult to treat, while those who had not encountered cases were more likely to believe that soriasis was difficult to treat.
Conclusion: The PCPs play a crucial role in managing psoriasis and its comorbidities but often lack the necessary knowledge and experience. Enhanced training programs in psoriasis management can equip PCPs to better identify treatment options, and screening tools, and improve referral decisions.
Key words: Family physicians, Saudi Arabia, psoriasis, comorbidities, knowledge
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