Knowledge, Attitudes, and Prescribing Practices of Primary Healthcare Physicians Regarding Proton Pump Inhibitor Use in the United Arab Emirates: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are widely used to manage acid-related gastrointestinal disorders and are generally considered safe and effective. However, concerns exist about their frequent or prolonged use without clear clinical indications, which may increase the risk of adverse effects. Despite their widespread use, little is known about primary healthcare physicians’ knowledge, attitudes, and prescribing practices regarding PPIs in the United Arab Emirates. This study aimed to assess these factors among physicians within Emirates Health Services (EHS) and evaluate their awareness of potential long-term adverse effects. Methods An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted from February to May 2025 among primary healthcare physicians working under EHS. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire from a previously published validated study assessing knowledge, attitudes, and prescribing practices related to PPI use. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 28.0 (Released 2021; IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data, and a chi-square or Fisher’s exact test was used to examine associations between variables, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results A total of 198 physicians participated; most were aged 36-45 years (n = 88, 44.4%), female (n = 128, 64.6%), and had 11-20 years of clinical experience (n = 87, 43.9%). Overall, 166 (83.8%) demonstrated good knowledge of PPI use, and 152 (76.8%) were aware of potential adverse effects. Positive attitudes toward rational PPI use were observed in 181 (91.4%), and 187 (94.4%) reported appropriate prescribing practices based on self-report. PPI knowledge among variables tested showed that female physicians demonstrated higher levels of knowledge compared with male physicians (112 (87.5%) vs 54 (77.1%)); however, this difference did not reach the predefined threshold for statistical significance (p = 0.05). Similarly, younger physicians (≤35 years) demonstrated slightly higher ADE knowledge scores compared with older physicians; however, this association also did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.05). No statistically significant associations were found between knowledge, attitudes, and prescribing practices. Conclusions Primary healthcare physicians within EHS demonstrated good knowledge, positive attitudes, and generally appropriate self-reported prescribing practices regarding PPIs. However, improving rational PPI use may require not only educational interventions but also system-level strategies, such as regular review of long-term prescriptions and decision support within electronic medical records.