ABSTRACT

Sleep is crucial for development and growth of children. Sleep deprivation or deficiency leads to mortality and morbidity of the children, and influences the life quality of children and their family. Sleep disorders are easily diagnosed by pediatric health care providers, sleep problems may go unrecognized, and treatment and consultations may be insufficient. In the present study we aimed to demonstrate the awareness of pediatric health care providers in regards of child sleep issue.

A questionnaire was filled out by pediatricians and family physicians attending to the Symposium of Social Pediatrics.

Of the participating 150 physician, 67.3% were pediatrician and 32.7% were family physician. Most of physicians were practicing in training and research hospitals or university hospitals. Of the physicians 65.3% had one or more children and three out of four (76.5%) had their offspring suffering from sleep problems. Most of physicians (87.3%) spent less than 15 minutes for a patient. It is found out physicians argued sleep issue with a minority of patients. Of the physicians only 12.8% indicated having sufficient education on sleep, 29.3% having sufficient knowledge and experience in sleep issue. More than half of the physicians were consulted by a patient suffering from sleep problems and the most consulted departments were child psychiatrist and/or the psychologists. Physicians having offspring suffering from sleep problems were more frequently informed parents in regards of sleep issue and made the patients consult to other departments.

Children’s sleep is often an overlooked issue in our country and pediatric health care providers are insufficient about this issue.

Keywords: Children, sleep problems, sleep disorders, pediatricians, family physicians, awareness