How Are We Managing Patients with Hyperuricemia and Gout: A Cross Sectional Study Assessing Knowledge and Attitudes of Primary Care Physicians?

Abstract

Background: Studies show that hyperuricemia is an element of the pathophysiology of many conditions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess primary care physicians’ knowledge and attitudes toward asymptomatic hyperuricemia and gout management. Methods: A survey-based cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the primary physicians’ attitudes, knowledge, and patient management regarding hyperuricemia and gout. Results: A total of 336 primary care physicians were included. Physicians who read at least one scientific paper covering the topic of hyperuricemia in the past year scored significantly higher in knowledge questions (N = 152, 6.5 ± 2.05 vs. N = 183, 7.04 ± 2.14, p = 0.019). Only around half of physicians correctly identified drugs that can lower or elevate serum uric acid levels. Furthermore, the analysis of correct answers to specific questions showed poor understanding of the pathophysiology of hyperuricemia and possible risk factors. Conclusions: This study identified gaps in primary care physicians’ knowledge essential for the adequate management of patients with asymptomatic hyperuricemia and gout. As hyperuricemia and gout are among the fastest rising non-communicable diseases, greater awareness of the available guidelines and more education about the causes and risks of hyperuricemia among primary care physicians may reduce the development of diseases that have hyperuricemia as risk factors.

Medical Students’ Perspective and Knowledge of Asymptomatic Hyperuricemia and Gout Management: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Moreover, students did not consider personal experience as valuable in the management of gout patients. This was confirmed in a previous study in which the work experience of primary care physicians did not follow their knowledge on gout [ 39 ].…”

“…Students did not differ significantly among study years or sources of education in knowledge scores. However, in research among primary care physicians in Croatia that used the same questionnaire, physicians that read at least one scientific paper on the topic of gout scored significantly higher than those who did not [ 39 ].…”

“…In a previous study among primary care physicians in Croatia, drugs were correctly identified by as many as 75% of them in all three cases. The questions about pathophysiology of hyperuricemia were better answered by students than physicians [ 39 ].…”

“…The second part of the survey investigated students’ knowledge regarding various characteristics and inter-relations of hyperuricemia and gout. The questionnaire was already used in the population of family physicians in the Republic of Croatia [ 39 ], and it consisted of 16 multiple choice questions (MCQs), with only one correct answer among five offered in each of the questions. The draft version of the questionnaire consisted of 24 items; however, after additional review by two family medicine specialists, eight questions were disregarded due to the low intelligibility and potentially ambiguous answers.…”

“…The third part of the survey investigated students’ attitudes regarding the management of hyperuricemia and gout, and the final version consisted of nine different items in which agreement could be measured through a 5-point Likert scale (from fully agree to fully disagree). Statements were based on a previous publication that investigated attitudes on hyperuricemia and gout in a population of family physicians [ 39 ]; however, they were carefully adapted and changed to be more suitable for the student population. The draft version consisted of 14 items, from which five statements were disregarded after additional review by two family medicine specialists, due to low readability and unsuitability for the student population.…”