Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a disorder characterized by partial or total airway obstruction during sleep. Studies have shown variability in the level of knowledge and awareness about OSAS among pediatricians. The management of childhood obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) depends on the severity of the disease, the presence of comorbidities, and the child's age. The American Pediatric Academy recommends a multidisciplinary approach involving a pediatrician, a sleep specialist, and an otolaryngologist to provide comprehensive care for children with OSAS. The aim of this cross-sectional study is to evaluate the level of knowledge among pediatricians in Italy regarding the diagnosis of pediatric OSAS.
Material and methods: An anonymized survey was conducted among Italian pediatricians. The survey was administered electronically using Google Forms, and a total of 350 pediatricians were invited to participate. Out of the 350 invitations, 299 pediatricians responded to the survey. The statistical analysis performed consisted of descriptive analysis. The study included 297 pediatricians.
Results: Pediatricians demonstrated proficiency in identifying common nocturnal and day symptoms of OSAS. A majority (68.9%) considered the oral and otorhinolaryngologist areas during checkups. Approximately 70.6% took patient weight into account, and 62.8% were aware of the regional diagnostic-therapeutic-assistance pathway.
Conclusions: According to the results of this manuscript, there is evidence of a good level of knowledge about OSAS, but disseminating more information about OSAS and all the health issues associated with this syndrome is suggested. This study also has limitations caused by the complexity of the pathology.
Keywords: OSAS; apnea; dentistry; pediatric; pediatricians.