Family physicians' awareness and general knowledge of hidradenitis suppurativa: A survey research

Medical consultations of family physicians play a key role in early diagnosis and proper management of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). This study aimed to investigate family physicians' disease awareness, general attitudes, and knowledge of HS.

This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with 211 family physicians and residents through a web-based survey. The questionnaire consisted of 25 questions about the demographic characteristics of the participants as well as their awareness and general knowledge of HS.

While 90% of physicians know that the diagnosis of HS is made clinically without any need for a laboratory examination, only 23.7% of them felt confident performing such a diagnosis. About 63% of participants defined HS as an infectious disease of the apocrine glands, contradictive to the real pathophysiology. About 21% of them had not been medically trained in HS, and 3% of them even had never heard the name of HS. Only 33% were aware of the role of biological agents. Most of the family physicians (57.4%) were willing to participate in postgraduate education programmes about HS.

The family physicians' awareness of HS is limited. Increased practice in medical education and postgraduate education programmes may help increase the knowledge of family physicians.