Knowledge Regarding H.Pylori Management Among Hospital Doctors in Benghazi, Libya
Keywords:
H.Pylori, Helicobacter Pylori, Peptic ulcer, MALT lymphoma, DyspepsiaAbstract
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) affects almost half of the world population. The infection is more prevalent in developing countries (up to 90%) especially in societies with lower socioeconomic status. Doctors' knowledge about management of H.Pylori infection is a subject of continuous evaluation, given the worldwide high prevalence, and variations in diagnostic methods and treatment regimens. This is cross-sectional observational, questionnaire-based study that explored the knowledge background about managing H.Pylori infection among trainee doctors in Benghazi hospitals, where 150 doctors were asked to fill in the questionnaire. Hundred and eleven responded (74.0%). The most frequent symptoms thought by the participants to be caused by H.Pylori infection were epigastric pain (77.5%) and heartburn (62.2%). Forty-nine participants (out of 108 (45.3%)) preferred prescribing eradication for all patients with confirmed infection. Thirty-six (out of 94) (38.3%) participants preferred the antibiotic combination of amoxycillin and clarithromycin. The most preferred test for confirmation of H.Pylori eradication was fecal antigen test (82 out of 111(73.9%)). There is a clear knowledge gap among hospital doctors working in secondary care hospitals in Benghazi, regarding the symptomatology, and management of H.Pylori infection. Our findings are comparable to many similar observations worldwide.
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