Title : Assessing the knowledge, attitude, and practices of primary care physicians in managing acute stroke patients in Metro Manila, Philippines: A cross-sectional analytical study
Abstract:
Background: Primary care physicians are often the first to encounter patients with stroke, placing them in a critical role for early recognition, triage, and referral. Their competence can determine how quickly patients access life-saving treatment.
Objective: This study examined the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of primary care physicians in Metro Manila regarding acute stroke management and explored whether training and practice setting influenced performance.
Methods: A cross-sectional analytical survey was conducted among 385 licensed primary care physicians working in emergency departments and community clinics across Metro Manila. A validated tool, adapted from Kusuma et al., was used to assess their knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Data were processed using descriptive statistics and nonparametric tests, including Chi-square, Mann–Whitney U, and Kruskal–Wallis, with significance defined at p<0.05.
Results: Respondents were balanced in terms of gender and evenly distributed across age and experience levels. Results showed that primary care physicians were strongest in acute stroke recognition and demonstrated timely referral, but were found to be weak in advanced management, with only 54% identifying the thrombolysis window correctly and 37% administering aspirin prematurely. Furthermore, physicians based in the emergency room and those who attended recent stroke training showed markedly better results.
Conclusion: Primary care physicians in Metro Manila show competence in recognition and referral but remain inconsistent in advanced stroke management. Strengthening continuing education, establishing uniform stroke pathways, and integrating telestroke support may help bridge these gaps.
