Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of General Practitioners in Bujumbura Regarding Stroke

Daniel, Nduwayo; Thierry, Sibomana; César, Uwigenga; Samuel, Havuginoti; Patrice, Barasukana; Léopold, Nzisabira

doi:10.21608/aijpms.2024.380305

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of General Practitioners in Bujumbura Regarding Stroke

Document Type : Original research articles

Authors

¹ Department of Neurology, Medicine Faculty of Bujumbura, University of Burundi, Bujumbura, Burundi.

² Department of Pneumology, Medicine Faculty of Bujumbura, University of Burundi, Bujumbura, Burundi.

³ Department of Internal Medicine, Medicine Faculty of Bujumbura, University of Burundi, Bujumbura, Burundi.

⁴ Department of neurology, Medicine Faculty of Bujumbura, University of Burundi, Bujumbura, Burundi.

10.21608/aijpms.2024.380305

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of general practitioners in Bujumbura City regarding stroke. This was a cross-sectional and descriptive study that was conducted over a period of 4 months. Data were collected using a questionnaire, then entered and analyzed on the computer using Epi-info software version 7.2.2.6. The median age of the general practitioners surveyed was 34.73 years, with a male predominance of 77.62%. Their average knowledge of stroke was 38.40%. None of the general practitioners had ever had continuing education on stroke, and 97.90% proposed only the brain scan as a diagnostic examination. Only 7.69% complied with blood pressure targets when prescribing antihypertensive drugs for ischemic stroke. Deglutination disorders were considered by only 15.38% of general practitioners to authorize oral feeding. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was used by 52.45% of the general practitioners although 97.20% felt that stroke was an absolute emergency. Thus, 94.41% showed difficulties in managing stroke patients, so that 66.00% considered that stroke management in Burundi is poor. In conclusion, the knowledge and practices of general practitioners in Bujumbura regarding stroke were not satisfactory, although their attitude was positive.

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