ABSTRACT

The aim of this study is to evaluate the knowledge of signs and symptoms of spondyloarthritis among family physicians working in Family Health Centers in Edirne.

In this study, a questionnaire consisting of 17 questions were applied to the family physicians working in the Family Health Centers of Edirne Province. The data were analyzed using non-parametric Spearman Correlation test and Mann-Whitney U test on IBM SPSS version 20.0.

The total number of subjects in the study was 45. All subjects’ median age was 47 years (1st quartile, 42 years; 3rd quartile, 51 years). Five of the participants were family medicine specialist. The median duration of medical practice was 20 years (1st quartile, 13 years; 3rd quartile, 25.5 years). Four of the participants were trained in rheumatology. The median number of patients examined by the participants was 60 per day (1st quartile, 47.5; 3rd quartile, 70). Forty-one of the participants stated that they referred patients with back pain to the hospital for further examination. The median number of referral percentage was 15 (1st quartile, 5; 3rd quartile, 25).

Spondyloarthritis is a disease that is diagnosed too late and reduces patients’ quality of life. In this study, it was investigated which factors could be related to spondyloarthritis awareness of family physicians in a limited area. The most important output of this is study is the relation between referrals to rheumatology and awareness of spondyloarthritis. These parameters are related to each other and the physician.

Keywords: Back pain, arthritis, family physicians