Healthcare Providers' Perception and Practice Toward Anaphylaxis in Children in the Qassim Region of Saudi Arabia

Introduction: Anaphylaxis is described as a severe allergic reaction, and prompt assistance is required by the patient to avoid any complications. The healthcare provider's knowledge plays an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of these cases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge among the primary healthcare providers working in the Qassim region of Saudi Arabia regarding the diagnosis and treatment of anaphylaxis. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the four different governments of the Qassim region of Saudi Arabia. The calculated sample size for the study was 119 primary healthcare providers. A selfadministered questionnaire was devised to collect data regarding the diagnosis and treatment of anaphylaxis patients. Results: Thirty-six (28.8%) out of 119 physicians were 25-30 years old, followed by 33 (26.4%) who were more than 40 years old; 53 (42.4%) and 47 (36.7%) had less than five and more than 10 years of experience, respectively. Age and experience were found to be significantly associated with knowledge about the diagnostic criterion (p=0.003 and p=0.000, respectively), while experience was significantly associated with the correct identification of signs and symptoms (p=0.031). Conclusion: Knowledge about the diagnosis and management of anaphylaxis patients among primary healthcare providers was poor. Physicians are required to be educated to increase their level of knowledge to promptly diagnose and treat anaphylaxis cases.