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A questionnaire survey among Turkish physicians about sleep disorders
Ethem Gelir1, Sadik Ardiç, Bilgay Izci
1Zonguldak Karaelmas University Medical School, Physiology Department, Zonguldak, Turkey. ethemgelir@mor-tel.net
Tuberkuloz Ve Toraks
|November 24, 2004
Summary
Turkish physicians demonstrate limited knowledge and suboptimal attitudes regarding sleep disorders. Enhancing medical education on sleep medicine is crucial for improving patient care in Turkey.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Sleep Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Sleep disorders represent a significant public health concern with widespread implications.
- Physician knowledge and attitudes are critical for effective diagnosis and management of sleep conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the current level of knowledge among Turkish physicians concerning sleep disorders.
- To assess physicians' attitudes towards the field of sleep medicine.
- To identify areas for improvement in sleep medicine education within Turkey.
Main Methods:
- A 24-item questionnaire was developed, comprising 7 attitude-related and 17 knowledge-related questions.
- The survey was administered to physicians across university and educational hospitals in Ankara, Turkey.
- Data were collected from 168 physicians representing 5 different medical specialties.
Main Results:
- Nearly half of the physicians (47%) reported having little knowledge of sleep disorders, while 45% felt they had sufficient knowledge.
- Despite self-assessments, physicians answered an average of only 45.3% of knowledge-based questions correctly.
- Overall physician performance indicated a gap in understanding sleep disorders.
Conclusions:
- Current medical education on sleep disorders in Turkey is insufficient in both duration and scope.
- There is a clear need to expand and enhance sleep medicine curricula to improve physician competency.
- Improving sleep disorder education is essential for advancing the quality of sleep medicine practice in Turkey.