PHYSICIAN KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE TOWARDS FIBROMYALGIAAND FACTOR'S INFLUENCING KNOWLEDGE IN EASTERN PROVINCE , SAUDI ARABIA
Introduction: Fibromyalgia is a common rheumatological disease that is difcult to diagnose , because of it's subjective symptoms and decient physician's knowledge of the disease . The purpose of this study is to assess knowledge, attitude and practice of family physicians regarding bromyalgia Methods: The study was a cross sectional with an online survey that was administered to general practitioners and family physicians in Eastern province, responses were obtained from 209 participants, knowledge about bromyalgia, attitude and practice were assessed Results: Regarding knowledge about bromyalgia, 89% of the respondents had poor knowledge. Attitudes revealed that More than half of the respondents (56%) thought that bromyalgia is easy to diagnosed. However, only 12.4% of the medical practitioners agreed that diagnosis of bromyalgia can be conducted in PHC setting and only 16.7% felt condent to use (ACR) criteria. Regarding management, about 27% believed they can manage bromyalgia . Only a quarter (24.9%) said they never manage any cases of bromyalgia. Conclusions: knowledge, attitude and practice regarding bromyalgia are poor which results in delay in the diagnosis and management.To overcome this delays in diagnosis and treatment and improve knowledge about bromyalgia, further education is needed