A Suyvey To Assess Otolaryngologist’s Knowledge And Attitudes About Obstructive Sleep Apnea Hypopnea Syndrome

[Background and Objective]Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is a common disease caused by obstruction of the upper airway during sleep. It is accompanied with snoring, disorder of sleep, frequent reduction in blood oxygen saturation, daytime sleepiness, lack of attention, decrease of libido and other symptoms. OSAHS is closely related to cardiovascular disease and endocrine disorder, and it is also a dangerous factor which may cause obesity, daytime sleepiness and hypoxemia. Hypoxemia and hypercapnia may finally cause a series of pathological changes, resulting in multi-organ injuries. OSAHS is potentially dangerous which may even lead to sudden death. Therefore, clinicians should raise the awareness of OSAHS and improve the prognosis of the patients. This investigation aims to analyze the knowledge of ENT clinicians and their attitudes towards OSAHS.[Methods]A questionnaire from USA entitled "Obstructive Sleep Apnea Knowledge and Attitudes Questionnaire (OSAKA)" was used. ENT doctors in41public hospitals from17cities of Shandong Province answered the OSAKA through the mail.[Results]1. There were a total of334valid questionnaires (95.70%). The average correction rate of all items was78%. In their answers,61.38%clinicians mistakenly thought that "Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty is curative for most of the OSAHS patients", with the correct rate of38.62%(0.39±0.49), the lowest among all the items. Only41.02%(0.41±0.49) of the doctors could correctly answer the question that "female OSAHS patients can only present as fatigue". Only50.90%(0.51±0.50) of the responders knew that "less than five times of apnea or hypopnea per hour is normal for adults". Most doctors had a general understanding of the pathogenesis of OSAKA, while few of them knew much about OSAHS treatment.2. More than95%of the participants stated that "As a clinical disease, OSAHS is of significant importance. What is more, it is important to make a definite diagnosis of patients who may have OSAHS".70%of the doctors felt confident in OSAHS diagnosis, but only less than60%of them were confident in curing OSAHS patients. Individual knowledge items did not differ significantly by gender or by whether or not respondents had completed subspecialty training. Positive self assessment and longer years of clinical practice add to the total score. There was also statistically significant correlation between the total score and the general knowledge of the disease.[Conclusions]1. Otolaryngologists have a comprehensive knowledge of OSAHS pathogenesis, with a high correct rate on the specific items. They are limited in the knowledge about the treatment of OSAHS, with a low correct rate on certain questions.2. There are no significant correlations between the accurate rate and the sex, education background, professional titles and the level of hospital. The correct rate was linearly related to the age and years in practice of the doctors (P<0.05), indicating that aged otolaryngologists have a more comprehensive understanding and grasp of OSAHS expertise with the accumulation of clinical experience.3. In the surveyed hospitals at different levels, the understanding of the importance of OSAHS, the confidence to diagnose and treatment are different. With the rise of the hospital level, the understanding of the importance of OSAHS diagnosis, treatment and the confidence to treat the patients with CPAP correctly improved.4. Positive correlations between the correct rate of knowledge entries and the awareness of clinicians were noted in respondents.[Significance]It is well known about the importance of OSAHS in clinicians of otolaryngology department. It is key step to recommend that elevate the knowledge and positive attitudes through more continuous education focusing on the diagnosis and treatment and identifying at risk for OSAHS.