Assessment of Diagnostic Knowledge and the Management of Bell's Palsy Among Primary HealthCare Physicians in Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Purpose: Bell's palsy is a common cause of acute peripheral facial nerve paralysis. Its symptoms can mimic other severe conditions, posing diagnostic challenges for primary care physicians (PCPs). This study aimed to assess the diagnostic knowledge and management preparedness of PCPs in Saudi Arabia regarding Bell's palsy. Particular emphasis was placed on identifying critical knowledge gaps that may affect clinical decision-making, especially in corticosteroid dosing and standardized diagnostic approaches.

Patients and methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. A total of 204 physicians participated in the study. Non-probability convenience sampling was used to recruit participants, which included general practitioners and family medicine physicians with at least 1 year of clinical experience. Structured surveys were distributed both online and in person to collect data on demographic information, knowledge of Bell's palsy, diagnostic confidence, treatment approaches, and perceived barriers. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression in SPSS version 26.

Results: The mean knowledge score was 11.06 (standard deviation = 3.01), with significant gaps in areas such as the House-Brackmann grading system (57.8% correct) and the recurrence of Bell's palsy (54.4% correct). Although most respondents correctly identified the cranial nerve (94.1%) and treatment timeline (65.7%), their knowledge of corticosteroid dosage was suboptimal (56.4%). Family medicine physicians had higher knowledge levels than general practitioners (p = 0.004). Moreover, 52.5% reported no diagnostic barriers, whereas 47.5% mentioned issues such as unclear diagnostic criteria (17.2%) and limited tools (8.3%). Among those interested in additional education, 94.1% preferred online training.

Conclusion: Although PCPs showed a strong understanding of Bell's palsy, significant gaps were identified in advanced diagnostic and management areas. Addressing these deficiencies, particularly in corticosteroid dosing and structured diagnostic frameworks, is essential to enhancing clinical preparedness. These findings underscore the need for targeted educational interventions, including online training and standardized diagnostic protocols, to bridge knowledge gaps, improve diagnostic accuracy, and optimize patient management strategies.