Addressing sarcopenia management in primary care in Türkiye: Gaps in the field and training needs of family physicians

Ahmed AlmatarŞenay Koçakoğlu^*

• Harran University Faculty of Medicine, Şanlıurfa, Türkiye

Background and Objectives: Sarcopenia is a current health threat that accompanies nutritional problems, cancers, and chronic diseases all around the world. Individuals in the risk group, especially the elderly, can be protected against sarcopenia with early diagnosis and effective interventions. The aim of this study is to conduct the first national survey to determine the awareness, knowledge, and adequacy levels of Turkish family physicians regarding sarcopenia management. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on family physicians serving in family health centers across Türkiye. The mobile phone numbers of family physicians were accessed through the Federation of Family Physicians Associations. Data were collected through a 33-item online purpose-designed survey from April 1 to June 2024. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to evaluate the conformity of the variables to the normal distribution. Chi-square test was applied for comparisons between groups. Results: 405 family physicians representing all seven regions in Türkiye participated in the study. The mean score of the participants' competence level in sarcopenia management was found to be 3.37±1.98 out of 10 points. Receiving training on palliative care and sarcopenia before and/or after graduation and having people diagnosed with sarcopenia in the immediate environment provided a positive and significant difference in terms of sarcopenia management competence scores (p<0.001, p=0.012, p=0.001, respectively). Conclusions: The findings of the study reveal deficiencies in awareness, knowledge, and management of sarcopenia among family physicians. Expanding the subject of sarcopenia in the medical school curriculum, including sarcopenia management in guidelines for primary health care providers and providing equipment support, ensuring that family physicians are more proactive and competent in the management of sarcopenia may be a rational approach within the scope of protecting and improving individual and public health.