Pediatric Residents’ Awareness and Practices Toward Critical Congenital Heart Disease Screening in Saudi Arabia: A Multicenter Study

Critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) is a major cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Pulse oximetry screening enables early detection, potentially reducing complications and improving outcomes. This study evaluated pediatric residents’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to CCHD screening in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was distributed to pediatric residents across Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire assessed knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding CCHD screening. Results: A total of 123 pediatric residents in training were included in the study. Of these, 57 (46.3%) were male, and 66 (53.7%) were female. A progressive increase in mean scores was observed with advancing training years (p = 0.010). A significant difference was observed in knowledge scores based on completion of a cardiology rotation (p = 0.006). A progressive increase in attitude scores was observed with each successive year of training. Current year in training showed a statistically significant association with attitude scores (p < 0.001). Completion of a newborn nursery or NICU rotation was also significantly associated with higher attitude scores (p = 0.027). Similarly, attitude scores were significantly higher among those who had completed a cardiology rotation (mean = 12.99, SD = 1.52) compared to those who had not (mean = 11.60, SD = 1.84; p < 0.001). While practice scores were not statistically different across most groups, senior residents demonstrated better adherence to screening. Conclusions: Residents exhibit increasing awareness and positive attitudes with experience; however, practical implementation remains inconsistent. Targeted education and standardized protocols are necessary to improve outcomes. A positive correlation was observed between knowledge and attitude scores (r = 0.346, p < 0.001).