Knowledge Assessment Tool Research Articles

Impact of pressure injury education on nurses’ knowledge in an acute care setting

This research study investigated the profound physical, social, and psychological effects of pressure injuries on individuals. Despite ongoing efforts, hospital-acquired pressure injuries remain prevalent, with up to seventy percent deemed preventable. The study, which involved 40 nurses, employed the Pressure Ulcer Knowledge Assessment Tool (PUKAT) 2.0 to assess the impact of an educational workshop on nurses' knowledge. Statistical analysis revealed a statistically significant improvement in PUKAT 2.0 scores post-education (p < .001, r = .61), aligning with existing literature emphasizing the positive effect of education on nurses' knowledge of pressure injuries.

Awareness About Osteoporosis Among the General Population Based on the Osteoporosis Knowledge Assessment Tool (OKAT): A Cross-Sectional Study in the Northern Border Region of Saudi Arabia.

Osteoporosis is a progressive systemic skeletal disease characterized by increasing susceptibility to fractures. The current study was conducted to assess the awareness about osteoporosis among the general population in the Northern Border region of Saudi Arabia to improve awareness and proper planning for public awareness about osteoporosis. The study was conducted as across-sectional survey study, based on the online distribution of the Arabic-translated Osteoporosis Knowledge Assessment Tool (OKAT). The questionnaire questions cover the demographic characteristics of the participants, as well as symptoms, risk factors, prevention, and knowledge of treatment centers for osteoporosis in Saudi Arabia. 395 participants were enrolled in the study after their informed consenting. After scoring all correct answers for each participant, the mean score of all participants' answers was 12.5±3.4 (range 0-19). Participants with poor knowledge (0-7 scores), moderate knowledge (8-13 scores), and good knowledge (13-20 scores) represent 61 (15.4%), 213 (53.9%), and 121 (30.6%), respectively. The mean percentage of right answers to all the questions is 44.1%. The highest awareness level was shown in the area of osteoporosis symptoms and risk of fractures, while the lowest was recorded in the questions covering the risk factors. Ages, genders, jobs, and levels of education significantly affected the participants' levels of awareness. The public awareness among the population in the Northern Border region about osteoporosis is less than satisfactory. More awareness activities targeting the risky groups should be planned especially in the area of risk factors and preventive measures for osteoporosis.

Insights into pressure injury prevention: Assessing the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Palestinian nursing students

AimTo assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Palestinian nursing students towards pressure injury prevention. Materials and methodsA descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 455 nursing students recruited from Arab American University-Palestine, employing a total population sample. Data collection forms include socio-demographic information, the Pressure Ulcer Knowledge Assessment Tool, Attitude towards Pressure Ulcer Prevention Instrument and Pressure Injury Preventive Practices scale. ResultsThe study found that students had a mean knowledge score of 54% (14.04/26), a positive attitude score of 75.8% (39.42/52), and demonstrated a fair level of practice 75.3% (30.12/40). Significant differences were observed in the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice total scores, linked to academic year, clinical experience, and the number of attended departments during clinical training (p < 0.001). Additionally, weak but significant positive relationships were found between practice and attitude scores (r = 0.303, p < 0.001), practice and knowledge score (r = 0.211, p < 0.001), and a moderate positive significant relationship between knowledge and attitude scores (r = 0.567, p < 0.001). ConclusionThe study revealed insufficient knowledge, positive attitudes, and somewhat unsafe practices among nursing students regarding pressure injury prevention. It highlights the need for specific revisions in the nursing curriculum. Improvements can be achieved through detailed coverage in classrooms and laboratories, integrating simulation methods. Additionally, ensuring that students gain adequate experiences in clinical units, with a specific emphasis on pressure injury prevention, is crucial for improving students’ capability and contribute to better pressure injury management.

Knowledge and Awareness of Osteoporosis: A Survey of Physical Therapy Providers in Saudi Arabia.

Osteoporosis "OP" is classified as one of the most serious health conditions worldwide. OP increases the skeletal fracture risk by 35%, particularly at hip, spine, and wrist joints. Healthcare professionals should be aware of OP clinical signs and have good knowledge while managing all patients. This study aims to investigate the current level of osteoporosis knowledge and awareness among physical therapy providers in Saudi Arabia. One hundred and sixty-eight physical therapy providers participated in this cross-sectional electronic survey from February to July of 2021. The participants completed the Osteoporosis Knowledge Assessment Tool questionnaire (OKAT). Descriptive analysis was utilized to assess the current level of osteoporosis knowledge among physical therapy providers. Among the 168 participants, 55% (n = 92) were over 31 years old and 45% (n = 76) were 30 years old or under. The majority of participants 37% (n = 62) had more than 10 years of experience, 45% (n = 76) mainly treat orthopedic conditions, and 70% (n = 117) live in the western region. The results showed that 67.9% (n = 114) of participants had good knowledge about osteoporosis, while 19.6% (n = 33) had poor knowledge, and only 12.5% (n = 21) had excellent knowledge. Physical therapy providers in Saudi Arabia have a good knowledge of osteoporosis. The overall OP preventive measure knowledge questions were poor. It is crucial for physical therapy providers to act appropriately to prevent falls and mitigate any potential risks.

Assessing Osteoporosis Knowledge and Beliefs Among Adults Living in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Knowledge and beliefs about osteoporosis have been considered one of the vital parts of early prevention against it. This study aimed to evaluate knowledge and beliefs toward osteoporosis using the Osteoporosis Knowledge Assessment Tool (OKAT) and Osteoporosis Health Belief Scale (OHBS) questionnaires among the public in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2019 to April 2019 among adults aged 15 years and above. A validated questionnaire was allocated electronically to the participants through social platforms (such as Twitterand WhatsApp) using a convenience sampling technique. A total of 754 participants completed the questionnaire. The majority were females 481 (63.8%). A total of 34 (4.1%) have not heard about osteoporosis before. Respondents scored a total mean of 7.92±3.0for the OKAT questionnaire and a mean score of 126.74±22.38for the OHBS questionnaire. These two scores were significantly associated with age groups and gender (P < 0.05). Although there is a relative increase in the knowledge of our sample, the belief towardosteoporosis is evidently lower. Therefore, implementing educational programs that tackle belief perception and other preventive measures such as healthy eating habits, physical activities, and educational materials are needed in the future.

Development and evaluation of a novel knowledge assessment tool for pediatric emergency medicine clerkships.

This study seeks to determine validity evidence for a newly developed multiple-choice examination (MCE) tool to assess retention and application of medical knowledge of students enrolled in a pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) clerkship. A team of PEM physicians created a 110-item MCE covering the range of clinical topics in PEM relevant for medical students. The researchers determined examination content using the report of Clerkship Directors in Emergency Medicine and PEM Interest Group of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM). The authors administered the MCE to fourth-year medical students at the end of their PEM rotation from May 2020 to April 2023 at four institutions and then analyzed the examination using four of Messick's five sources of validity evidence: content, response process, internal structure, and relation to other variables. A total of 158 students took the test. In academic year (AY)20-21, 47 students took the test and scored, on average, 81%. After revision of poor and indeterminate questions, the 111 medical students who took the revised version of the test in AY21-AY23 scored on average 77.3% with a standard deviation of 5.7% with a normal distribution in scores. The revised questions were rated as excellent (10.0%), good (26.4%), fair (34.5%), poor (24.5%), or indeterminate (4.5%) based on test item discrimination. There was a positive correlation between MCE scores and students' clinical evaluations but no correlation between MCE scores and scores that students received on their clinical notes or patient presentations during case conference. This novel PEM clerkship examination is a reliable test of medical knowledge. Future directions involve evaluating consequences of the MCE and offering the test to medical students in a dedicated PEM rotation at the national level.

Knowledge and Attitude of Nursing Interns Toward Pressure Injury Prevention in Saudi Arabia: A Multiregional Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction Nursing students in internship programs can play a role in preventing pressure injuries as they engage in real clinical situations and are assigned to conduct clinical tasks. Thus, nursing students in internship programs should be adequately prepared in terms of their knowledge and attitudes to contribute to pressure injury prevention. Objective To explore and understand the knowledge and attitudes of nursing interns toward pressure injury prevention in Saudi Arabia. Methods This cross-sectional study included 161 nursing interns from various public hospitals across three provinces in Saudi Arabia and used an online questionnaire. The Pressure Ulcer Knowledge Assessment Tool and Attitude toward Pressure Ulcer Prevention instrument were used to collect data from nursing students in the internship program. The Statistical Package of the Social Sciences Program version 28 was used for the data analysis. Results Participants reported inadequate knowledge regarding the prevention of pressure injuries, with a mean knowledge score of 48.15%. Additionally, the participants showed unsatisfactory attitudes toward the prevention of pressure injuries, with a mean score of 61.36%. Significant differences were observed in knowledge ( P = 0.008) and attitude ( P &lt; 0.001) levels between sexes, with female participants scoring higher than male participants. Additionally, students who completed longer internships had better knowledge levels than those who completed shorter internships ( P = 0.007). In the open-response question, participants reported a lack of preparation and support during the internship and suggested recommendations to address these deficiencies in preparation and support. Conclusion Nursing interns need pre-internship preparation and continuous learning and support during the internship to manage and prevent pressure injuries.

The Level of Knowledge, Awareness, and Practice Regarding Osteoporosis among Female Adults in Hail city, Saudi Arabia

This is a cross-sectional study conducted on the adult female population of Hail city. Informed consent was obtained from the participants through the electronic survey. The sample size needed to enroll was 384, estimated from the total female population of Hail city 267,113 by Raosoft sample size calculator, with a 95% confidence interval and 5% margin of error (General Authority for statistics). All Saudi females in Hail city constituted the study population. However, all non-Saudi females and males, Saudi or otherwise, were excluded from the study population. We used the Osteoporosis Knowledge Assessment Tool (OKAT) which was pre-validated, translated to Arabic, and self-answered questionnaire. The OKAT survey is a valid measurement of knowledge of risk factors for osteoporosis, (Tania M Winzenberg et al, 2003). It consists of 20 statements; the first 12 assess the knowledge of osteoporosis, 4 questions assess the attitude towards osteoporosis and the last 4 questions assess the preventive factors of osteoporosis. Each statement has three choices, true, false, and I do not know. The OKAT survey was translated into Arabic language which is found to be reliable and acceptable according to Sayed-Hassan et al. The questionnaire was distributed randomly through social media platforms during the period from March to May 2020. Keywords: Knowledge, awareness, practice, osteoporosis, Saudi Arabia

The Dementia Knowledge Assessment Scale, the Knowledge in Dementia Scale, and the Dementia Knowledge Assessment Tool 2: Which Is the Best Tool to Measure Dementia Knowledge in Greece?

Measuring dementia knowledge can be a valuable tool for assessing the effectiveness of dementia awareness activities, identifying the potential benefits of dementia training programs, and breaking down common myths and stereotypes about dementia. To compare the psychometric properties of three widely used dementia knowledge tools, the Dementia Knowledge Assessment Tool 2 (DKAT2-G), the Dementia Knowledge Assessment Scale (DKAS-G), and the Knowledge in Dementia Scale (KIDE-G) in the Greek adult population. A convenience sample of 252 participants from the general population completed the survey online. Statistical analyses included Cronbach's internal reliability, retest reliability, factor analysis, concurrent and construct validity, and floor and ceiling effects. The DKAS-G had the most appropriate reliability levels (Cronbach's alpha = 0.845; retest reliability = 0.921), whereas the DKAT2-G had satisfactory indexes (Cronbach's α= 0.760; retest reliability = 0.630). The KIDE-G showed unsatisfactory reliability (Cronbach's α= 0.419; retest reliability = 0.619). Construct validity was confirmed for all questionnaires, showing that all of them detected participants with pre-existing knowledge of dementia. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a four-factor model for the DKAS-G and proposed the removal of 5 items. Floor and ceiling effects were found for the DKAT2-G and the KIDE-G, mainly among those who had previously participated in dementia training. The DKAS-G was found to have the highest levels of reliability and validity. The results prove that the DKAS-G meets the requirements for measuring dementia knowledge and evaluating dementia training programs in health professionals, caregivers, and the general population.

Nutritional knowledge, attitude, and practice of professional athletes in an Iranian population (a cross-sectional study)

BackgroundProper nutrition is vital in promoting community health, yet insufficient knowledge and improper dietary practices can lead to deficiencies and diseases. Professional athletes depend on optimal nutrition for their performance and recovery, but a lack of understanding can impede their potential. The nutritional status of athletes impacts their overall health and sports performance. Inadequate sports nutrition knowledge may result in suboptimal practices, reducing strength, power, endurance, and immunity. Additionally, disordered attitudes can lead to dietary imbalances and an increased risk of injury. This study, conducted in Qazvin, Iran, examined athletes’ nutritional knowledge, attitudes, and practices. By addressing these factors, there is potential to enhance dietary behaviors and ultimately improve athletes’ performance.MethodsThe study employed a descriptive-analytical, cross-sectional design to investigate the nutritional knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of professional athletes in Qazvin, Iran. A total of 320 purposefully selected professional athletes (68.13% male, 31.87% female) from various sports fields participated in the research. The data collection tool consisted of demographic questions and a KAP questionnaire, including 27 nutritional knowledge questions, 16 nutritional attitude questions, and 14 nutritional performance questions. The quota sampling method was used to estimate sample sizes. Data analysis was carried out by SPSS v.26 using one sample t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient test.ResultsThe results showed that nutritional knowledge (the mean value was 79.594 ± 7.015 - the optimal knowledge level = 84) and attitude (the mean value was 23.347 ± 5.300 - the optimal attitude level = 26) for athletes are low, but their nutritional practice (the mean value was 21.788 ± 3.450 - the optimal performance level = 24) was moderate. Also, professional athletes’ nutritional knowledge, attitude, and practice were lower than normal (p < 0.05). Significant positive correlations were among knowledge, attitude, and practice (p < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in nutritional knowledge, attitude, and practice among the subjects of different age groups, genders, and sports types (p > 0.05).ConclusionThis study showed that the nutritional knowledge, attitude, and practice of professional Iranian athletes in Qazvin province were low; therefore, the implementation of more theoretical and applied nutrition education, such as using knowledge assessment tools and interventions, irrespective of their age, sport’s field, and gender, is compelling.

Nursing Students' Knowledge on Pressure Injuries Following a Blended-Learning Unit: A Quasi-experimental Study.

To assess first-year bachelor's degree in nursing students' knowledge about pressure injury (PI) etiology, classification, prevention, and management following blended learning and clinical practice. A quasi-experimental design was used. Nursing students' PI knowledge was measured using the French version of the Pressure Ulcer Knowledge Assessment Tool (PUKAT) at three time points: baseline (before a blended-learning unit, consisting of 2 hours of e-learning and 3 hours of practical workshop), after the blended-learning unit, and after clinical practice. A total of 21 students participated over the three time points. At baseline, the mean percentage of correct answers on the PUKAT was 45.8%. This score increased to 59.2% following the blended-learning unit and 65% after completing the clinical practice (F2,58 = 19.08; P = .00). Over the three time points, students scored highest on knowledge of risk assessment and lowest on knowledge of prevention. Blended-learning units combining e-learning and practical workshops are valuable tools to increase students' knowledge about PIs. The PUKAT enables the evaluation of changes in students' knowledge following a teaching unit on PIs. However, more research is needed to assess the long-term evolution of knowledge and the impact of this teaching on clinical practice.

Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity Caregiver College: a culturally‐relevant training for African American Alzheimer’s disease caregivers

AbstractBackgroundAfrican American (AA) caregivers of patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related disorders can play a critical role in maintaining patient health. The Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity at Wake Forest University School of Medicine Caregiver College (MC2) aims to (1) improve informal caregivers’ knowledge of AD and related disorders, (2) enhance the quality of life for AD patients and caregiver’s by providing awareness of and access to resources that can help reduce caregiver burden, (3) provide strategies to effectively manage patient symptoms associated with AD, and (4) fill gaps in culturally relevant health education and awareness on AD, brain health, and dementia caregiving skills for AAs.MethodThe 40‐hour inaugural session of MC2 was conducted in‐person in October 2022. Educational sessions were facilitated by experts in various fields including AD, social work, nursing, aging, nutrition, and pharmacy. Topics covered over the course of the educational week included: Alzheimer’s Disease Overview, Health Disparities in AAs, Risk Factors for AD, End of Life Planning, and Caregiver Health. The 21‐item Dementia Knowledge Assessment Tool (DKAT), version 2 (Toye, et al. 2013) was used to track changes in AD knowledge and awareness. A DKAT pre‐test was administered before the educational sessions began on Day 1, and a post‐test assessment was administered at the end of the last educational session on Day 5.ResultAttendees (N = 21) are African American (100%), primarily female (90.48%), with an average age of 66.8 years (range 42‐82 years, 1 missing value). DKAT assessments from the week‐long educational training, showed an 8% increase in knowledge about AD in this sample of dementia caregivers based on a 5.7 percentage point increase on the DKAT from an average of 71.4% correct pre‐training to an average of 77.1% correct post‐training.ConclusionFindings suggest that community‐based educational training is a useful strategy for improving AD knowledge and resource awareness for AA informal caregivers. Results will be used to expand this training to include community members who will be engaged through presentations by attendees of the MC2.

The Knowledge and Prevention Treatment of Osteoporosis on Elderly: A Cross Sectional Study

According to the World Health Organization osteoporosis is the second ranked, after heart disease. In the worldwide there are 200 million people with osteoporosis. One cause the osteoporosis is the low public knowledge in preventing osteoporosis. This study aims to determine the relationship of knowledge with osteoporosis prevention to the elderly. Cross sectional research design, with total sample of 84 elderly through the Accidental Sampling technique. The sample size was 84 respondents. The research instrument used the OKAT (Osteoporosis Knowledge Assessment Tool) questionnaire as the knowledge of osteoporosis and osteoporosis prevention measures questionnaire. The data analysis used univariate analysis and bivariate analysis . The results of this study found that the knowledge of the elderly was in high category of 60.7% and the prevention of osteoporosis was in good category of 53.6%. The results of statistical tests obtained p 0.02&lt; 0.05, that Ho was rejected, so it can be concluded that there is a relationship between knowledge and osteoposition prevention measures in elderly. Research recommendations require further research by examining factors that have not been studied to explain the phenomenon and describe the condition of osteoporosis prevention comprehensively.

In Search of a Gold Standard Tool for Assessing Knowledge of Stroke: A Systematic Review.

Knowledge of stroke is essential to empower people to reduce their risk of these events. However, valid tools are required for accurate and reliable measurement of stroke knowledge. We aimed to systematically review contemporary stroke knowledge assessment tools and appraise their content validity, feasibility, and measurement properties. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023403566). Electronic databases (MEDLINE, PsycInfo, CINAHL, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science) were searched to identify published articles (1 January 2015-1 March 2023), in which stroke knowledge was assessed using a validated tool. Two reviewers independently screened titles and abstracts prior to undertaking full-text review. COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) methods guided the appraisal of content validity (relevance, comprehensiveness, comprehensibility), feasibility, and measurement properties. After removing duplicates, the titles and abstracts of 718 articles were screened; 323 reviewed in full; with 42 included (N = 23 unique stroke knowledge tools). For content validity, all tools were relevant, two were comprehensive, and seven were comprehensible. Validation metrics were reported for internal consistency (n = 20 tools), construct validity (n = 17 tools), cross-cultural validity (n = 15 tools), responsiveness (n = 9 tools), reliability (n = 7 tools), structural validity (n = 3 tools), and measurement error (n = 1 tool). The Stroke Knowledge Test met all content validity criteria, with validation data for six measurement properties (n = 3 rated "Sufficient"). Assessment of stroke knowledge is not standardised and many tools lacked validated content or measurement properties. The Stroke Knowledge Test was the most comprehensive but requires updating and further validation for endorsement as a gold standard.

Efficacy of Decision Aids in The Use of Left Ventricular Assist Device in Patients With Advanced Heart Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Control Trials

Although left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation can improve survival in patients with end-stage heart failure, it is not without risk. Numerous complications are possible, and durable support requires substantial lifestyle changes. The use of various knowledge-assessment tools may allow for more informed patient decisions. To synthesize the totality of the evidence, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to summarize the efficacy of decision aid (DA) use in patients with advanced heart failure who are eligible for LVAD. Any randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluating the efficacy of DAs in patients considering LVAD was eligible for inclusion. A complete search of EMBASE and PubMed was conducted from the start until June 8, 2023. The primary outcome was patients' LVAD knowledge. Data extraction was performed independently by 2 reviewers. Data were pooled using a random-effects model. Of the 575 references, 2 RCTs randomizing 490 patients were included in this study. DAs were associated with no significant change in LVAD knowledge (standardized mean difference 0.07, 95% confidence interval -0.24 to 0.39, p=0.64) or decisional conflict (mean difference -1.48, 95% confidence interval -5.28 to 2.32, p=0.45). The certainty of the evidence ranged from moderate to very low. The use of DAs in LVAD-eligible patients with advanced heart failure resulted in no difference in patients' knowledge of LVAD after LVAD education. The findings from this study will aid in the power analysis of a well-designed RCT to evaluate and encourage further investigation into the efficacy and relevance of DAs in preparing patients for a life with LVAD.

Rubrics For Learning &amp; Self-assessment In Open Schooling

In the teaching-learning process, various tools and techniques are being used by the teacher at different levels of understanding, memorizing, and reflection. The relevance of various tools for knowledge gathering, enrichment, and assessment is well acknowledged by research studies around the globe. In order to strengthen the degree of competency of the learner, the latest research studies recognize the wide applicability of rubric not only in performance assessment but also in other different dimensions of development by different means of children with different needs. In this present study, the researcher aimed to explore the potential of the rubric as a tool to assess targeted skills in a more detailed manner through explicit explanation of performance expectations for the learners of Open School. This paper investigated the impact of using rubrics as a learning and self-assessment tool for improving the science laboratory skills of the learners of the National Institute of Open School (NIOS). The study was carried out in three phases, the pre-intervention, intervention, and post-intervention phase. The quasi-experimental design was adopted with one sample, pre-post test design. As a sample, 28 learners of Senior Secondary (Science stream) of 3 different study centers of NIOS located in Delhi, NCR were selected. Rubric as a tool of self-learning and assessment was used in this study. The science practical was attended by the sample at their respective study centers and the researcher reached the sample in their respective places. Sessions were conducted to prepare the sample about the preparation and usage of Rubrics for their own learning and performance check. The learners were urged to use it to improve their own learning and execution perfection level in their Science practical classes after a series of sessions, once they had a clear comprehension of the preparation and usage. The qualitative interpretation of the findings in the study revealed that the learners got a better understanding and clarity on the expectations of perfection in performing an experiment, which helped them to bring that precision while conducting the practical. Also, it was acknowledged by most of the learners that the rubric helped them to focus on their work, produce work of better quality, and assisted them to earn better grades without feeling nervous about the given task. The descriptive analysis of pre and post-intervention phases revealed that there was a gain difference of 14.95 between pre-test and post-test scores in each dimension of the rubric. The hypothesis testing was done through the Wilcoxon signed rank test (statistical analysis), Z: -3.936, Asymp. Sig. (2-tailed): 0.000, the P value was less than 0.05 (0.000&lt;0.05), indicating that there was a significant difference in the performance, and hence, H0 was rejected. The multiple benefits of using a rubric as a learning and scoring instrument are discussed in this paper. This study promotes the use of rubrics as a learning and assessment tool to enhance the knowledge and skills of learners in formal and open learning environments.

Impact of Integrated Pharmacology Instruction by Principal Faculty Pharmacists in Two Physician Assistant Programs: A Retrospective Study.

In recent years, there has been a growing trend toward integrating pharmacology instruction into physician assistant (PA) programs by dedicated PA faculty pharmacists. Pharmacists train to become medication experts. Incorporating pharmacist instruction in a PA program during the didactic year provides PA students with an early opportunity to experience interprofessional education and interdisciplinary synergy through clinical application. This article presents a retrospective study that aims to evaluate the impact of integrated pharmacology instruction by principal PA faculty pharmacists on student satisfaction and standardized assessment metrics. Student satisfaction was measured by course evaluations and exit/alumni surveys. Standardized metrics included Physician Assistant Clinical Knowledge Rating and Assessment Tool and Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam assessments. The findings indicate that having a principal faculty member with specialized expertise in pharmacology has improved the overall course satisfaction, knowledge, and competence of PA students and perceptions of the relevance and effectiveness of pharmacology instruction in their clinical practice. The results of this study support the value of using pharmacist faculty members in PA programs to enhance the quality of pharmacology instruction and ultimately contribute to the success of PA students in their professional careers.

Factors associated with leprosy knowledge

Introduction: Leprosy is a disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae and represents a public health challenge, with a high prevalence in Brazil. Knowledge about the disease plays a crucial role in understanding the disease and behavior in relation to prescribed medication, where social factors are linked to health literacy. The aim of this study was to assess the factors associated with knowledge about leprosy. Method: Patients from fifteen Family Health Units were interviewed using an adapted knowledge assessment tool. Associations were made between variables using crude prevalence ratios and the Wald chi-square test. The analysis included Poisson multiple regression. Results: The study revealed that approximately half of the participants had very good knowledge about leprosy, with high levels of correctness in the areas of signs/symptoms and diagnosis. In addition, the final model showed that people with an income between 2 and 3 minimum wages were 75% more likely to have good knowledge of leprosy. Conclusion: Lack of information can result in late diagnosis and treatment interruption. Therefore, health education plays a vital role in the success of leprosy treatment.

Dementia care behind prison walls: A descriptive study understanding nurse’s knowledge and educational needs

Aim/objectiveTo establish correctional nurses’ dementia knowledge base and identify their educational needs related to caring for prisoners with dementia. BackgroundThe aging prison population is growing, posing a heightened risk of dementia among older inmates. This study examined the knowledge and perceived educational needs of nurses caring for prisoners with dementia. DesignA descriptive study which was qualitative in nature was undertaken. MethodsData was collected using an online survey which included Demographics, the Dementia Knowledge Assessment Tool 2 and open-ended questions. Descriptive statistics such as percentages and frequency were used to analyse the quantitative data and a qualitative analysis was undertaken to identify common themes and extract meaningful insight from the open-ended questions. ResultsNurses showed a general understanding of dementia and its environmental impact but lacked knowledge of late-stage changes. Eight main themes relating more broadly to the environmental and staffing challenges faced by nurses are presented. ConclusionAlthough participants appeared to have a reasonable dementia knowledge base the study highlights the need for specific dementia education and support focussed on the correctional setting and collaborative partnerships with dementia experts in the community.

Assessment of osteoporosis knowledge, awareness, and risk factors among premenopausal and postmenopausal women from Jordan: a cross-sectional study.

Lack of information about osteoporosis knowledge and awareness among premenopausal compared to postmenopausal women in Jordan. Women had an average-poor knowledge and awareness about osteoporosis. This study highlights the need to improve women's knowledge about osteoporosis, its consequences, potential risk factors, preventive measures, and treatment options. To assess osteoporosis knowledge, awareness, and risk factor profile among premenopausal and postmenopausal women from Jordan. This was a cross-sectional study that involved 490 premenopausal and 488 postmenopausal women from the general population of Jordan. Face-to-face interviews were conducted to collect the sociodemographic and clinical data and to complete the Osteoporosis Knowledge Assessment Tool (OKAT) questionnaire. Premenopausal and postmenopausal women had an average-poor level of knowledge and awareness regarding osteoporosis, with a total mean score of 51.3 and 50.9, respectively, out of the total OKAT score of 100. More than 50% of premenopausal women correctly answered 11 questions, while >50% of postmenopausal women correctly answered 9 questions out of 20 in OKAT, which are related to knowledge and awareness about osteoporosis. The participants' marital status (being married), higher educational level, and higher economic status were significantly associated with better knowledge and awareness about osteoporosis (p-values < 0.05). Postmenopausal women had higher osteoporosis risk profile including older age, higher body mass index, less regular exercise, and less exposure to sunlight versus premenopausal women. Premenopausal and postmenopausal women from Jordan had an average-poor level of knowledge and awareness about osteoporosis. Higher educational levels and higher income are associated with better knowledge and awareness about osteoporosis. It is therefore crucial to improve the knowledge of women in Jordan about osteoporosis and its consequences, as well as the potential risk factors, preventive measures, and treatment options. Conducting periodic osteoporosis awareness and educational campaigns are necessary to spread the awareness of the disease.