Peer-reviewed article
Evaluation of the Knowledge Level and Attitudes of Family Physicians Regarding Circumcision: A Cross-sectional Study.
Merve Yüzbaşıoğlu, Y Doruk Bilgili, Güzin Zeren Öztürk ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study surveyed 369 family physicians about their knowledge and attitudes toward male circumcision. Most physicians recommended circumcision before age two, but significant misconceptions were found, including beliefs that anesthesia is unnecessary for newborns and gaps in knowledge about medical associations. The researchers concluded that structured training programs could improve evidence-based counseling to parents.
Key points
- 73.3% of family physicians recommended circumcision before age two
- 27.9% believed anesthesia was unnecessary for newborn circumcision
- 65.9% recognized association with reduced urinary tract infections, but only 45.4% knew of sexually transmitted disease associations
- Mean circumcision knowledge score was 4.04 out of 6
- Knowledge scores were higher among physicians with ≥3 children and those with circumcised sons
Limitations
This study measures physician knowledge and attitudes rather than child health outcomes or the actual effects of circumcision practices. It does not evaluate an intervention or provide evidence about impacts on children's well-being.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Male circumcision is more common in countries where Islam and Judaism are widely practiced. Despite its high prevalence, misinformation and misconceptions persist. This study aimed to assess family physicians' (FPs) knowledge and attitudes regarding circumcision. METHODS: This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study included 369 FPs. A 36-item questionnaire, assessed sociodemographic characteristics, attitudes, knowledge. Knowledge was evaluated using six items scored as correct (1), incorrect/undecided (0), yielding a total score of 0-6. Data were analyzed using SPSS Statistics with descriptive statistics, Pearson's chi-square, Mann-Whitney U, and Kruskal-Wallis tests. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 38.5±9.3, 62.1% were female. Most FPs (73.3%) recommended circumcision before two years of age, while 9.9% favored circumcision during the phallic stage. Twelve percent opposed circumcision without medical indication, and 27.9% believed that anesthesia was unnecessary for newborn circumcision. Awareness of medical benefits varied: 65.9% recognized the association with reduced urinary tract infections, whereas fewer identified associations with sexually transmitted diseases (45.4%) or hydronephrosis-related indications (33.1%). The mean circumcision knowledge score was 4.04±1.24, being higher among physicians with ≥3 children and among those with circumcised sons. CONCLUSION: Although most FPs demonstrated moderate knowledge, important misconceptions remain. Structured training programs may improve evidence-based counseling provided to parents.