Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Physicians Regarding Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Tertiary Care Settings: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Southern Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects approximately 1 billion adults globally, yet remains underdiagnosed, particularly in resource-limited settings. Physician knowledge and practice patterns are critical determinants of detection rates. This study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of physicians regarding OSA in two tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 73 physicians at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital and Rivers State University Teaching Hospital between April and September 2025. A Structured Questionnaire assessed OSA knowledge (symptoms, risk factors, diagnostics), attitudes toward screening, and clinical practice patterns. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used for analysis.
Results: Among 73 respondents (General Practice 31.5%, Internal Medicine 24.7%, other specialties. 43.8%), 95.9% had heard of OSA, but only 63.0% correctly identified polysomnography as the gold standard diagnostic test. While 60.3% rated their awareness as Good or better, only 16.4% received formal OSA training, and merely 6.8% felt adequately trained to manage OSA patients. Despite this, 84.9% expressed interest in continuing medical education (CME). Only 28.8% routinely or occasionally screened for OSA, and 35.6% had ever made an OSA diagnosis. The predominant challenges were lack of patient awareness (31.5%), limited access to sleep laboratories (26.0%), and lack of physician training (24.7%). Notably, 82.2% believed OSA is underdiagnosed, and 87.7% considered screening Very or Extremely important.
Conclusion: Significant knowledge-practice gaps. exist among physicians regarding OSA. While awareness is moderate, formal training is severely lacking, resulting in suboptimal screening and diagnostic practices. The high interest in CME suggests that structured educational interventions could substantially improve OSA detection and management in similar settings.