KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, AND PRACTICE TOWARDS ASYMPTOMATIC HYPERURICEMIA AND GOUT AMONG FAMILY MEDICINE RESIDENTS IN KING SAUD MEDICAL CITY IN RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA, 2023: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Introduction: Asymptomatic Hyperuricemia is defined as blood serum urate concentration above 6mg/dl (357 μmol/L) for women and above 7mg/dl (416 μmol/L) for men. It is important to highlight that in Saudi Arabia, family medicine residents encounter multiple cases of AH and gout. Thus, it would be of significance to assess their knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding AH and gout. Methodology: A cross-sectional hospital-based descriptive study. The study was conducted in King Saud Medical City Riyadh -in June 2023, among all family medicine residents training in King Saud Medical City Riyadh. Consecutive sampling was implemented. Full coverage of all family medicine residents training in King Saud Medical City Riyadh (n= 119). Results: This study included a total of 117. 87(74.7%) have an experience of 1-3 years. About one quarter of participants (26.5%) attended continuing medical education (CME) on asymptomatic hyperuricemia (AH) or gout. 83(70.9%) have moderate knowledge, and 75(64.1%) have moderate practice, and 22(18.8%) have good practice. Participants level of knowledge was found to be significantly associated with reading about asymptomatic hyperuricemia (AH) or gout in the last year and being aware with the guidelines on the management of both AH and gout (P< .05). On the other hand, level of practice was found to be associated significantly with reading about asymptomatic hyperuricemia (AH) or gout in the last year only (P= .04). Conclusions: More than half of patients showed moderate level of knowledge and favorable attitude towards AH and gout. Majority of residents showed moderate level of practice towards management of AH and gout. Significant association was found between level of knowledge and attending continuous medical education sessions (P < .05). Significant association was also found between level of practice and patients level of knowledge (P < .05).