Objective: Cow`s milk allergy is the most common form within the food allergy its prevalence increased recent years in children. In this study, we aim to determine the primary care physician`s knowledge about diagnosis of cow`s milk allergy, treatment and adrenaline auto injector usage.
Materials and Methods: One hundred twenty-six voluntary primary care physicians who are working in Malatya city were included in the study. Interview with each participant were carried out and cow`s milk allergy form which was prepared previously was filled in.
Results: The median age was 42 (26-62), median length of professional experience was 16 (2-39) years and 89 (70.6%) of participant were male gender. The mean examined patient number by primary care physicians was 37.4 (± 14.6) for each day and the mean examined patient number whose age was under 3 years was 8.5 (± 4.5). Of the 25.4 percent of primary care physicians did not have knowledge about skin prick test, serum specific Ig E level and/or oral challenge test for diagnosis of cow`s milk allergy. Although 73% of participant knew the elimination milk and dietary product from infant who was considered to have allergy to cow`s milk and mother, only 13.5% of them knew the prescribe hypoallergenic formula for infant with cow`s milk allergy. 64.3% of participant knew the prescribe the adrenaline auto injector in case of anaphylaxis due to cow`s milk. Knowledge of adrenaline auto injector use, appropriate side for injection and dose were 34%, 34.1% and 30.2%, respectively. There was no significant effect of primary care physicians`s age and length of professional experiences on the knowledge of cow`s milk allergy and adrenaline autoinjector usage.
Conclusion: The knowledge of primary care physician about diagnosis of cow`s milk allergy, treatment and adrenaline auto injector usage are insufficient. Therefore it should be useful to training programs about these topics for primary care physician.