Evaluation of The Knowledge Level And Attitudes of Family Physicians on Circumcision
Merve Yüzbaşıoğlu, Yusuf Doruk Bilgili, Güzin Zeren Öztürk
Keywords: Male circumcision, family physicians, knowledge, pediatrics
Aim:
The number of circumcised men is specifically higher in countries with widespread Muslim and Jewish faith compared to other countries. Unfortunately, lack of information and misconceptions regarding this frequently performed procedure continues to exist. In our study, we aimed to determine the family physicians awareness of circumcision.
Method:
This descriptive analytical study was conducted with family physicians (FP). The sample size was calculated as 356 with 95% confidence interval from the universe of 3792 FP in İstanbul. We sent the questionnaire using the online FP group, and a total of 369 FP participated in our study.
Results:
In this study, the mean age of FP was calculated as 37 (24-65) years. Due to gender distribution 229 (62.1%) FP were females. One hundred fifty (40.7%) FP hadn't children. FP declared their duration of work experience as 13.4 (0-40) years.
FP mostly preferred (73.3%) circumcision under age of two. However, 9.9% of FP preferred circumcision during phallic stage. According to 12% of FP circumcision should not be performed and 27.9% of FP newborns did not require any type of anaesthesia during circumcision. Eight (2.2%) FP favored circumcision at home under local anesthesia. The possibility of having a urinary tract infection is supposed to reduction following circumcision, as declared by 243 (65.9%) of the FP. Almost half of doctors (45.4%) regarded circumcision as mandatory in preventing venereal diseases.
Awareness of indication for a rather early circumcision was shared by 122 (33.1%) of the FP, in patients diagnosed with hydronephrosis. Two of third of FP were also in favor of circumcision in patients even hypospadias.
Conclusions:
FP act as consultants for families on many issues such as circumcision. This study demonstrated that FP need to update themselves about circumcision in order to provide accurate information and guidance to the parents. Annual training on circumcision could be organized.
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