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. 2024 Oct 12;25(1):365.
doi: 10.1186/s12875-024-02615-x.

Knowledge, attitude, and practice of chronic insomnia management among general practitioners in China: a cross-sectional survey

Kang An  1 , Zengxiang Wu  1 , Lin Zhang  1 , Yuqi Li  2 , Zhenmei An #  3 , Shuangqing Li #  4
Affiliations

Knowledge, attitude, and practice of chronic insomnia management among general practitioners in China: a cross-sectional survey

Kang An et al. BMC Prim Care. .

Abstract

Background: Chronic insomnia is a common yet often overlooked issue in primary health care. This study investigated the knowledge, attitude, and practices of chronic insomnia management among general practitioners (GPs).

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among GPs providing routine care to adults with insomnia in health facilities at all levels in Sichuan Province, China. Additionally, we designed an online questionnaire that included basic information and knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding chronic insomnia management.

Results: We included 420 GPs, 66.2% of whom were female and 58.1% were from community health service centers. Total 198 (47.1%) GPs had received specific training and only 2 GPs (0.5%) correctly answered the knowledge-related questions. Furthermore, only 44 GPs (10.5%) demonstrated excellent practice behaviors, while most GPs (70.2%) expressed high demand for training in insomnia management. Insomnia training experience was associated with higher practice scores (β = 3.318, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: This study established an association and correlation between knowledge, attitude, and practice scores in treating insomnia and the sociodemographic characteristics of GPs in China. Although knowledge and practice performance in this field need to be improved, they mostly displayed a positive attitude towards insomnia management. Thus, offering continuing education opportunities to GPs would be highly beneficial.

Keywords: Adherence; General practitioner; Insomnia; Knowledge-attitude-practice; Primary care.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
General Practitioners’ knowledge of insomnia management
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
General Practitioners’ attitudes towards insomnia management
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
General Practitioners’ self-reported practices in insomnia management
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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