Medical Journal of Babylon (Jan 2022)
Knowledge, attitude, and practice of junior doctors about thalassemia in Babylon province
Abstract
Background: Thalassemia is a chronic condition that is caused by hereditary defects in hemoglobin production. Thalassemia is classified into two major categories, named α- and β-thalassemia, according to the hemoglobin gene defect. Premarital screening in the family members, followed by prenatal diagnosis is the most effective strategy for control of thalassemia. The most important thing is the determination of the traits or carriers of thalassemia. In our country, doctors acquired knowledge about thalassemia when they were students in medical college and after graduation, they worked in different hospitals. Some of them had worked in the thalassemia unit whereas others had not. Objectives: To assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of junior doctors about thalassemia in Babylon province. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 junior doctors (resident doctors and permanent doctors) who had different years of experience and places of work in Babylon province. The knowledge, attitude, and practice were assessed according to scoring by a group of researchers. Results: A cross-sectional study of 200 junior doctors (resident and permanent doctors), whose age ranged from 24 to 34 years with a mean age of (27.5 ±2.27) years. Most of the junior doctors were females: 145 (72.5%) worked in the emergency department 107 (53.5%). There were 92 (46%) junior doctors who possessed adequate knowledge about thalassemia. There were a significant association between knowledge and age, position/job, and smoking: P = 0.01, 0.02, and 0.04, respectively. The doctors had a positive attitude and good practice about thalassemia, 65 (32.5%) and 84 (42%) respectively. Regarding attitude, there is a significant association between it and position/job, P = 0.02 and in practice there is a significant association between it and gender, which is more in females (P = 0.02). Conclusion: The doctors had adequate knowledge, positive attitude, and good practice about thalassemia: 92 (46%), 65 (32.5%), and 84 (42%), respectively.
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