KNOWLEDGE ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE (KAP)OF CHRONIC KIDNEYS DISEASE AMONG MEDICAL OFFICERS OF TEACHING HOSPITALS OF LAHORE

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) about kidney diseases among medical officers working in different hospitals of Lahore. STUDY DESIGN: Cross sectional Study. PLACE AND DURATION OF THE STUDY: Department of Nephrology, King Edward Medical University, Mayo Hospital, Lahore from 1st Jan 2013 to 31st March 2013. METHODOLOGY: Doctors working on the medical floors of different tertiary care teaching hospitals [Mayo Hospital (ME), Sir Ganga Ram Hospital (SGRH), Service Institute of Medical Sciences (SIMS), Fatima Memoral Hospitals (FMH), Lahore General Hospitals (LGH), Shalamar Hospital (SH), Jinnah hospital (JH)] of Lahore were included in the study. Each doctor was given a questionnaire comprising of 28 questions. Each participant was given 10-15 minutes for completing the questionnaire at the spot. Categorization of doctors according to the KAP score was done as poor (<50%), average (51-70%) and good (>70%). RESULTS: One hundred eighty five doctors participated in the study who fulfilled the criteria. In this study majority 134 (62.6%) of the doctors were not taught about nephrology during their graduation which was statistically significant. Most of the doctors either had some knowledge or didn't know about procedures done in nephrology. Majority of the doctors 208(97.2%) know that nephrology deals with medical diseases of the kidney which was statistically significant. Most of the doctors 138(64.5) feel that nephrology services are insufficient in their hospital. More than 90% doctors want that kidney diseases should be taught during MBBS curriculum and separate nephrology department should be established which was statistically significant. Most of the doctors don't know the management of hyperkalemia very well. About 90% of the doctors know that there are five stages of CKD. Majority of the doctors know that ACE inhibitors are used in hypertension and diabetic nephropathy. They also know that urine complete examination help in early detection of diabetic nephropathy which was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Most of the doctors have poor to average knowledge and practice about kidney diseases. Most of the doctors think that nephrology services are insufficient in their hospitals and it must be taught during graduation. Separate nephrology department should be established for creating awareness about kidney diseases