Knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of physicians towards thyroid disorders and iodine requirements in pregnancy

Thyroid disorders including iodine deficiency during pregnancy are important health problems worldwide. However, considering real life, assessment of knowledge, attitudes, and practice of physicians is lacking. We aim to evaluate knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of physicians towards thyroid disorders and requirements of iodine during pregnancy on a nationwide basis.

Clinicians from different medical disciplines most likely to encounter pregnant women in daily practice (i.e., obstetricians, endocrinologists, and family physicians) were included. Family physicians were selected from primary care centers; endocrinologists and gynecologists were selected from state hospitals. Randomly selected 322 physicians from seven geographical regions of Turkey were included. Subjects filled a questionnaire which consisted of three sections about knowledge, attitudes and behaviors towards thyroid disorders and iodine requirements during pregnancy.

Physicians had insufficient and/or erroneous knowledge about thyroid disorders during pregnancy. 73.1 % of endocrinologists, 32.7 % of family physicians, and 17.8 % of obstetricians knew the correct level of TSH during pregnancy (p < 0.001). 67.1 % of physicians thought it is unnecessary to offer iodine supplementation to pregnant women. Endocrinologists achieved the highest scores in each section, and also had the highest total scores (p < 0.001). Family physicians achieved higher scores than obstetricians.

Physicians who encounter pregnant women in Turkey do not have sufficient information about management of thyroid disorders and providing iodine support during pregnancy and lactation.