Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of Medical Doctors on Atopic Dermatitis in a Tertiary Hospital in Sokoto, North Western Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic pruritic inflammatory skin condition affecting all age groups. Goals of management include reduction of symptoms and prevention of flare up. Treatment modalities include general and specific measures that can be undertaken to manage and prevent the condition.

Objectives: We aimed to assess the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice (KAP) of medical doctors of various cadres in 3 departments with respect to AD in Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, (UDUTH) Sokoto, Nigeria.

Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study using consecutive convenient sampling method was conducted amongst medical doctors of various cadres in 3 departments with data collected between July 2019 and March 2020. A standardized questionnaire exploring various components of KAP was used for data collection.

Results: Of the 64 respondents, 35(54.7%) were males with a male to female ratio of 1.2:1. Majority of the respondents 40(62.5%) were between the ages of 30-39 years, Paediatricians were 34(53.1%) and mostly registrars 37(57.8%). Overall average score for each of the parameters of KAP showed the doctors had very poor level of knowledge (44.4%), with harmful attitudes (48.9%) but average practices (73.1%). Paediatricians had a significant higher practice score than other respondents (χ2=12.890, F=0.045) but no significance was observed with knowledge nor attitude.

Conclusions: This study showed non Dermatology doctors have very poor level of knowledge, harmful attitude and average practice score regarding AD which signify education gaps in management of AD. There is need for the development of a Nigerian-based AD management guideline which should be widely circulated in all parts of the country.