RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors are a new class of medications that have been proven to improve both glycemic control and cardio-renal outcomes. The knowledge, attitude, and perception toward their prescriptions in Jazan, Saudi Arabia, are still unknown. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to measure the level of knowledge and attitude toward sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors prescription among physicians in the Jazan region, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: Data analysis was performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, SPSS 23rd version. Frequency and percentages were used to display categorical variables. Minimum, maximum, mean, and standard deviation were used to test numerical variables. Independent t-test and ANOVA test were both utilized to test the factors associated with knowledge and attitude toward the use of SGLT-2 inhibitors. RESULTS: A total of 65 participants were included in the study. 26.2% had a low knowledge level, 30.8% had a moderate knowledge level, and 43.1% had a high knowledge level of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors. 9.2% had a low attitude level, 43.1% had a moderate attitude level, and 47.7% had a high attitude level toward sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors. Age, professional status, years of experience, and specialty were significantly associated with attitude but not with the knowledge of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors prescription. CONCLUSION: While the study cohort scored high in the knowledge and attitude domains of the survey, a large proportion failed to answer very essential questions in type 2 diabetes management. An educational awareness program needs to be carried out to strengthen the physicians' knowledge of SGLT2 inhibitors prescription.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Sodium-glucose cotransporter inhibitors are promising medications for improving cardiovascular outcomes in diabetic and non-diabetic patients. The baseline characteristics associated with its prescription in Jazan, Saudi Arabia, are still lacking. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to determine the baseline characteristics associated with its prescription among type 2 diabetic patients in the Jazan region. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Jazan region, Saudi Arabia, who received a prescription of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) from June 2016 to December 2021 was conducted. Categorical baseline characteristics are reported as frequencies, and proportion and continuous variables are reported as means (SD). The crude odds and adjusted ratio (OR) (95% CI) for SGLT2i prescription were then calculated using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 370 patients who satisfied the inclusion criteria were included in this study. There were 133 patients (36%) who had been prescribed SGLT2i over a median follow-up of five years. Characteristics associated with the prescription were female gender (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.2, 95% Cl: 1.3-3.9), endocrinologist doctors (aOR: 2.4, 95% Cl: 1.3-4.5), patients who had visited the center four times or more (aOR: 10.9, 95% Cl: 4.6-25.9), patients who have evidence of DM retinopathy (aOR: 9.7, 95% Cl: 2.9-31.7), or patients who are morbidly obese (aOR: 4.1, 95% Cl: 1.1-14.8). CONCLUSION: The sodium-glucose cotransporter inhibitors are under-prescribed among type 2 diabetic patients in the Jazan region despite their availability. Further studies are warranted to address the potential barriers to prescriptions among different medical specialties.
