Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate physicians’ awareness of drug allergies in Qassim hospitals and determine their relationship with demographic and work-related characteristics.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 167 physicians working in four major hospitals in the Qassim region of Saudi Arabia. A self-administered structured questionnaire, adapted from a validated tool, was used to collect data on demographics and knowledge of drug allergies.
Results: Among 167 physicians surveyed, 81.4% were men, and 54.5% held a bachelor’s degree. The mean overall knowledge score was 53.42% ± 12.65%, with a range of 14.3%-78.6%. Physicians showed good knowledge of the immunopathology of anaphylaxis (83.8%), timing of immediate reactions (89.2%), and epinephrine as first-line management (84.4%). However, gaps were identified in diagnostic knowledge; only 34.1% correctly identified provocation tests as the gold standard, and 24.6% recognized the effect of antihistamines on dermatological tests. Knowledge scores were significantly higher among specialists/consultants than among interns (55.90% vs. 47.63%; p-value = 0.026). No significant differences were observed according to sex, education level, or hospital type.
Conclusion: Physicians in Qassim region demonstrated moderate knowledge of drug allergies, with strengths in immunologic understanding and emergency management, but with deficiencies in diagnostic procedures and testing nuances. Clinical experience and professional rank were associated with improved knowledge. The results point to the necessity of implementing focused education and well-designed training initiatives to improve the proper and safe handling of drug-related hypersensitivity reactions.

Key words: Drug allergy, anaphylaxis, physician knowledge, Saudi Arabia, hypersensitivity reactions