Knowledge, attitude and practice of physicians toward peak expiratory flow meter in primary health care centers in Kuwait

Background: Peak expiratory flow meter (PEFM) may reduce diagnostic delay and improve decision-making in asthma by providing an objective assessment of their flow and hence identify air flow variability that is essential for management of air way diseases. Objectives: This study was designed to reveal extent of knowledge and perception of physicians about peak expiratory flow meter and factors affecting their knowledge. Methods: Out of the total primary health care centers in Kuwait; only 50% were randomly selected. Out of 625 physicians working in the selected centers, 469 physicians were interviewed with an overall response rate of 75.0%. Results: The results of this study showed that physicians had a relatively low total knowledge score percent of 66.2 ± 10.5%. The lowest individual mean percent score was that of procedures and steps of measuring peak expiratory flow rate (49.9± 29.3%). The highest percent knowledge score was that of instructions for learning of patients about PEF (76.2 ± 11.7%). Socio-demographic factors, receiving training, availability of PEF in the health center and being responsible about taking the measurements for patients showed inconsistent impact on the level of knowledge of physicians. Conclusions: Further training of physicians about use of PEF and providing primary health care centers with PEF would play an important role to improve knowledge of physicians and hence improve domestic health care of patients with airway diseases.