Knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward depression among physicians in Sudan

Area of Science:

• Medical Research
• Public Health
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Depression is a prevalent mental health condition with significant global impact.
• Physician knowledge, attitudes, and practices are crucial for effective depression management.
• Limited data exists on the current state of depression care by physicians in Sudan.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of physicians in Sudan concerning depression.
• To identify gaps in physician training and resources for managing depression.
• To inform the development of targeted educational interventions for healthcare professionals in Sudan.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted in December 2022, involving 407 physicians in Sudan.
• An online questionnaire assessed physician knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding depression.
• Data was collected from physicians in both public and private health facilities.

Main Results:

• A majority of physicians (81.1%) lacked formal postgraduate mental health training.
• 43.0% struggled to differentiate between unhappiness and clinical depression.
• Physicians with prior mental health training were more likely to offer treatment options.

Conclusions:

• Physicians in Sudan exhibit moderate knowledge but concerning attitudes and practices towards depression.
• A significant lack of mental health training and resources was identified.
• There is an urgent need for comprehensive training programs for physicians in depression diagnosis and treatment in Sudan.