Objective:

identify the level of knowledge in management of acne among primary care physicians in Chiclayo province during the period August-November 2016.

Methods

: this study is cross - sectional descriptive. A questionnaire of 12 questions previously validated was applied in a sample of 98 physicians of primary care in Chiclayo province. For statistical analysis we used absolute and relative frequencies, measures of central tendency and Chi-square.

Results:

a high level of knowledge was obtained in 27 (27.6%) physicians, a mean level in 66 (67.3%) and a low level in 5 (5.1%). Regarding the five questions of general measures, 30 (30.6%) doctors answered correctly all of them. The amount of physicians who responded correctly to first-line treatments in comedogenic acne and moderate papulopustular acne were 38 (39%) and 48 (49%), respectively. The average number of years from graduation in physicians with a high level of knowledge was 5.6 years, mean level 8.7 years and low level 15 years.

Conclusion:

a high level of knowledge in acne management was obtained in 27 (27.6%) primary care physicians in Chiclayo province. When evaluating general measures on acne management, only 30 (30.6%) primary care physicians answered correctly to all of the questions in that section. Less than half of physicians knew first-line treatments in the comedogenic and the moderate papulopustular acne types.