Background: In modern society Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) is a growing disorder. Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea can present primarily to any specialities owing to the spectrum of symptoms at presentation. Due to lack of awareness among the patients and their physicians large group of patients with moderate or severe OSA may remain undiagnosed and untreated.

Aims & Objectives: To assess the knowledge and Attitude regarding Obstructive Sleep Apnea among health care professionals among the following specialities namely, General Practitioners, Physicians, Cardiologists, Pulmonologists, Anaesthesiologists in Mangalore city.

Methodology: This descriptive cross sectional study was conducted among the health care professionals in Mangalore city of above mentioned specialities. A standard validated questionnaire (OSAKA) was distributed among the doctors after briefing them the outline of the study.

Results: The mean score for knowledge assessment was 13.20 ± 2.66 while the mean score for attitude assessment was 19.11 ± 3.192. The mean OSA knowledge (15.91 ± 1.63 ) and attitude (23.14 ± 2.01) scores were highest among Pulmonologists when compared to other specialities. There is significant positive linear correlation between knowledge and attitude scores. Cardiologists obtained a mean OSA knowledge (14.00 ± 1.18) and attitude (18.55 ± 2.54) score where as physicians obtained a score of (13.87 ± 1.82) & (18.99 ± 2.83) respectively. The mean OSA knowledge among Anaesthesiologist were (12.58 ± 2.77) and attitude (20.09 ± 2.19) where as General practitioners obtained a score of (10.8 ± 2.66) & (16.23 ± 2.59) respectively

Conclusion: The level of knowledge among Physicians, General Practitioners, Anaesthesiologists was not optimal compared to Pulmonologists where as the level of knowledge among Cardiologists was adequate. The attitude regarding OSA was not optimal among all other specialities compared to Pulmonologists. Key words: Obstructive Sleep Apnoea, Knowledge and attitude, Health care professionals,cross sectional study.

TBA