Knowledge, awareness and practice regarding familial hypercholesterolaemia among primary care physicians in Malaysia: The importance of professional training

Ahmad Baihaqi Azraii; Anis Safura Ramli; Zaliha Ismail; Suraya Abdul-Razak; Noor Alicezah Mohd-Kasim; Norsiah Ali; Gerald F. Watts; Hapizah Nawawi

doi:10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2018.08.018

Knowledge, awareness and practice regarding familial hypercholesterolaemia among primary care physicians in Malaysia: The importance of professional training

Ahmad Baihaqi Azraii
, Anis Safura Ramli
, Zaliha Ismail
, Suraya Abdul-Razak
, Noor Alicezah Mohd-Kasim
, Norsiah Ali
, Gerald F. Watts
, Hapizah Nawawi

UWA Medical School

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

16 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background and aims: This study aimed to determine knowledge, awareness and practice (KAP) regarding familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) among Malaysian primary care physicians (PCP), and to compare KAP between PCP with postgraduate qualification (PCP-PG-Qual) and PCP without PG qualification (PCP-noPG-Qual). Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving PCP with ≥1-year working experience in Malaysian primary care settings. An adapted and validated 25-item FH-KAP questionnaire was disseminated during primary care courses. Total score for each domain was calculated by summing-up the correct responses, converted into percentage scores. Normality distribution was examined and comparisons of mean/median percentage scores were made between the two groups of PCP. Results: A total of 372 PCP completed the questionnaire. Regarding knowledge, 77.7% correctly defined FH. However, only 8.3% correctly identified coronary artery disease risk in untreated FH. The mean percentage knowledge score was significantly higher in PCP-PG-Qual compared to PCP-noPG-Qual (48.9, SD ± 13.92 vs. 35.2, SD ± 14.13), t(370) = 8.66, p < 0.001. Regarding awareness, 39% were aware of the NICE FH guideline and only 27.2% were aware of FH diagnostic criteria. The median percentage awareness score was significantly higher in PCP-PG-Qual compared to PCP-noPG-Qual (15.4, IqR ± 23.08 vs. 7.7, IqR ± 11.54), p = 0.013. Regarding practice, only 19.1% stratified FH patients as high risk irrespective of other risk factors. The mean percentage practice score was significantly higher in PCP-PG-Qual compared to PCP-noPG-Qual (52.4, SD ± 12.92 vs. 42.7, SD ± 16.63), t(370) = 9.65, p < 0.001. Conclusions: Substantial gaps in FH-KAP among Malaysian PCP were identified, with PCP-PG-Qual having better knowledge, awareness and practice than PCP-noPG-Qual, emphasising the importance of professional training and certification.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	508-516
Number of pages	9
Journal	Atherosclerosis
Volume	277
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2018.08.018
Publication status	Published - 1 Oct 2018

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This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
SDG 4 Quality Education

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10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2018.08.018

Cite this

@article{b6b197f22e464248b383aae16cfa9116,

title = "Knowledge, awareness and practice regarding familial hypercholesterolaemia among primary care physicians in Malaysia: The importance of professional training",

abstract = "Background and aims: This study aimed to determine knowledge, awareness and practice (KAP) regarding familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) among Malaysian primary care physicians (PCP), and to compare KAP between PCP with postgraduate qualification (PCP-PG-Qual) and PCP without PG qualification (PCP-noPG-Qual). Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving PCP with ≥1-year working experience in Malaysian primary care settings. An adapted and validated 25-item FH-KAP questionnaire was disseminated during primary care courses. Total score for each domain was calculated by summing-up the correct responses, converted into percentage scores. Normality distribution was examined and comparisons of mean/median percentage scores were made between the two groups of PCP. Results: A total of 372 PCP completed the questionnaire. Regarding knowledge, 77.7\% correctly defined FH. However, only 8.3\% correctly identified coronary artery disease risk in untreated FH. The mean percentage knowledge score was significantly higher in PCP-PG-Qual compared to PCP-noPG-Qual (48.9, SD ± 13.92 vs. 35.2, SD ± 14.13), t(370) = 8.66, p < 0.001. Regarding awareness, 39\% were aware of the NICE FH guideline and only 27.2\% were aware of FH diagnostic criteria. The median percentage awareness score was significantly higher in PCP-PG-Qual compared to PCP-noPG-Qual (15.4, IqR ± 23.08 vs. 7.7, IqR ± 11.54), p = 0.013. Regarding practice, only 19.1\% stratified FH patients as high risk irrespective of other risk factors. The mean percentage practice score was significantly higher in PCP-PG-Qual compared to PCP-noPG-Qual (52.4, SD ± 12.92 vs. 42.7, SD ± 16.63), t(370) = 9.65, p < 0.001. Conclusions: Substantial gaps in FH-KAP among Malaysian PCP were identified, with PCP-PG-Qual having better knowledge, awareness and practice than PCP-noPG-Qual, emphasising the importance of professional training and certification.",

keywords = "Awareness, Familial hypercholesterolaemia, Knowledge, Malaysia, Practice, Primary care",

author = "Azraii, \{Ahmad Baihaqi\} and Ramli, \{Anis Safura\} and Zaliha Ismail and Suraya Abdul-Razak and Mohd-Kasim, \{Noor Alicezah\} and Norsiah Ali and Watts, \{Gerald F.\} and Hapizah Nawawi",

year = "2018",

month = oct,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2018.08.018",

language = "English",

volume = "277",

pages = "508--516",

journal = "Atherosclerosis",

issn = "0021-9150",

publisher = "Elsevier",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Knowledge, awareness and practice regarding familial hypercholesterolaemia among primary care physicians in Malaysia

T2 - The importance of professional training

AU - Azraii, Ahmad Baihaqi

AU - Ramli, Anis Safura

AU - Ismail, Zaliha

AU - Abdul-Razak, Suraya

AU - Mohd-Kasim, Noor Alicezah

AU - Ali, Norsiah

AU - Watts, Gerald F.

AU - Nawawi, Hapizah

PY - 2018/10/1

Y1 - 2018/10/1

N2 - Background and aims: This study aimed to determine knowledge, awareness and practice (KAP) regarding familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) among Malaysian primary care physicians (PCP), and to compare KAP between PCP with postgraduate qualification (PCP-PG-Qual) and PCP without PG qualification (PCP-noPG-Qual). Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving PCP with ≥1-year working experience in Malaysian primary care settings. An adapted and validated 25-item FH-KAP questionnaire was disseminated during primary care courses. Total score for each domain was calculated by summing-up the correct responses, converted into percentage scores. Normality distribution was examined and comparisons of mean/median percentage scores were made between the two groups of PCP. Results: A total of 372 PCP completed the questionnaire. Regarding knowledge, 77.7% correctly defined FH. However, only 8.3% correctly identified coronary artery disease risk in untreated FH. The mean percentage knowledge score was significantly higher in PCP-PG-Qual compared to PCP-noPG-Qual (48.9, SD ± 13.92 vs. 35.2, SD ± 14.13), t(370) = 8.66, p < 0.001. Regarding awareness, 39% were aware of the NICE FH guideline and only 27.2% were aware of FH diagnostic criteria. The median percentage awareness score was significantly higher in PCP-PG-Qual compared to PCP-noPG-Qual (15.4, IqR ± 23.08 vs. 7.7, IqR ± 11.54), p = 0.013. Regarding practice, only 19.1% stratified FH patients as high risk irrespective of other risk factors. The mean percentage practice score was significantly higher in PCP-PG-Qual compared to PCP-noPG-Qual (52.4, SD ± 12.92 vs. 42.7, SD ± 16.63), t(370) = 9.65, p < 0.001. Conclusions: Substantial gaps in FH-KAP among Malaysian PCP were identified, with PCP-PG-Qual having better knowledge, awareness and practice than PCP-noPG-Qual, emphasising the importance of professional training and certification.

AB - Background and aims: This study aimed to determine knowledge, awareness and practice (KAP) regarding familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) among Malaysian primary care physicians (PCP), and to compare KAP between PCP with postgraduate qualification (PCP-PG-Qual) and PCP without PG qualification (PCP-noPG-Qual). Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving PCP with ≥1-year working experience in Malaysian primary care settings. An adapted and validated 25-item FH-KAP questionnaire was disseminated during primary care courses. Total score for each domain was calculated by summing-up the correct responses, converted into percentage scores. Normality distribution was examined and comparisons of mean/median percentage scores were made between the two groups of PCP. Results: A total of 372 PCP completed the questionnaire. Regarding knowledge, 77.7% correctly defined FH. However, only 8.3% correctly identified coronary artery disease risk in untreated FH. The mean percentage knowledge score was significantly higher in PCP-PG-Qual compared to PCP-noPG-Qual (48.9, SD ± 13.92 vs. 35.2, SD ± 14.13), t(370) = 8.66, p < 0.001. Regarding awareness, 39% were aware of the NICE FH guideline and only 27.2% were aware of FH diagnostic criteria. The median percentage awareness score was significantly higher in PCP-PG-Qual compared to PCP-noPG-Qual (15.4, IqR ± 23.08 vs. 7.7, IqR ± 11.54), p = 0.013. Regarding practice, only 19.1% stratified FH patients as high risk irrespective of other risk factors. The mean percentage practice score was significantly higher in PCP-PG-Qual compared to PCP-noPG-Qual (52.4, SD ± 12.92 vs. 42.7, SD ± 16.63), t(370) = 9.65, p < 0.001. Conclusions: Substantial gaps in FH-KAP among Malaysian PCP were identified, with PCP-PG-Qual having better knowledge, awareness and practice than PCP-noPG-Qual, emphasising the importance of professional training and certification.

KW - Awareness

KW - Familial hypercholesterolaemia

KW - Knowledge

KW - Malaysia

KW - Practice

KW - Primary care

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85053014903

U2 - 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2018.08.018

DO - 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2018.08.018

M3 - Article

C2 - 30270092

AN - SCOPUS:85053014903

SN - 0021-9150

VL - 277

SP - 508

EP - 516

JO - Atherosclerosis

JF - Atherosclerosis

ER -

Knowledge, awareness and practice regarding familial hypercholesterolaemia among primary care physicians in Malaysia: The importance of professional training

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