Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Hyperbaric O2 Therapy in the Treatment of Chronic non-healing Wounds among Physicians

Hyperbaric Oxygen (HBO₂) Therapy has been used for several decades as an adjunctive treatment to standard care for chronic non-healing wounds. However, very little is known about the factors that influenced physicians use of this mode of therapy in their practice. 1st: To assess Physicians Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of HBO₂ Therapy in the treatment of chronic non-healing wounds among physicians, whose practice included wound care, in the Saudi Armed Forces Hospitals during the year 2008. 2nd: To identify the factors associated with their Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of HBO₂ Therapy. 110 Physicians participated in a Cross sectional study with an analytical component. Data collection tool was 21-item questionnaire. All of the 110 physicians participated in the study. The results showed that Practice of HBO₂ Therapy was adopted by only a minority (7.3%; 95% C. I = 3.7 – 13.7) of Physicians who were concentrated in the eastern province. This was despite that the majority of physicians had a high Knowledge (76%; 95% C.I = 76.4–83.5) and agreed (61.9%; 95% C.I = 52.4–70.6) with the use of HBO₂ Therapy. Physicians Knowledge was significantly associated with the dependence on various sources of information to stay informed about the evidence of wound care treatment. Physicians Attitude towards HBO₂ Therapy was significantly associated with their Knowledge (P <0.05). Physicians Practice of HBO₂ Therapy was significantly associated with Patients voluntary request of HBO₂ Therapy (P= 0.006), Symposia was a source of information to stay informed about the evidence of wound care treatments (P= 0.007). The low level of Physicians Practice, in contrast to their high Knowledge of and Attitude towards, HBO₂ Therapy in the treatment of chronic non-healing wounds, in the Saudi Armed Forces Hospitals, was mainly due to the unavailability (except in Jubail) and inaccessibility of HBO₂ Therapy despite the availability of multiplace HBO₂ Chambers. It is suggested that Policy procedures and protocols for use of (or referral for) HBO₂ Therapy to be implemented. Also educating both Patients and Physicians and focusing on cost-effectiveness most probably will encourage future use of HBO₂ Therapy.