Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Primary Health Care Physicians toward Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Tabuk City, Saudi Arabia

Background: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is a common pregnancy-related condition associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Primary health care (PHC) physicians play a critical role in early detection and management of GDM. Aim: This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of PHC physicians regarding GDM in Tabuk City, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 102 PHC physicians working under the Ministry of Health in Tabuk between May and December 2024. Data were collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire covering socio-demographics, knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to GDM. Descriptive statistics and the Exact Probability Test were used for data analysis using SPSS version 28. A 60% cutoff was used to categorize knowledge as poor or good. Results: The majority of physicians were aged 30–40 years and had over five years of experience. Most (98%) demonstrated acceptable knowledge of GDM, with 91.2% achieving a good overall knowledge score. Female physicians and those with higher qualifications were more likely to have good knowledge. While 95.1% believed PHC physicians have an active role in GDM management, 74.5% found it difficult to diagnose or manage. In practice, only 34.3% had diagnosed GDM cases in the past year, and most referred patients to specialists. Significant associations were found between knowledge and both qualification (p = 0.041) and CME attendance (p = 0.049). Conclusion: PHC physicians in Tabuk have a strong theoretical understanding of GDM and show positive attitudes toward its management, though practical involvement remains limited. Strengthening training programs, clarifying clinical roles, and enhancing referral systems are recommended to support effective GDM management at the primary care level. Keywords Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM); Primary Health Care; Physicians; Knowledge; Attitudes; Practices; Tabuk; Saudi Arabia; Screening; Maternal Health; CME; Referral.