Knowledge, Attitude And Practice Research Articles

Knowledge, attitude and practice of poststroke depression among patients with poststroke depression and their family members in Heilongjiang Province, China: a cross-sectional study

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of poststroke depression (PSD) among patients with PSD and their family members.DesignWeb-based cross-sectional study.SettingThis study was conducted in Heilongjiang...

A Comparative Study between Time Series and Machine Learning Technique to Predict Dengue Fever in Dhaka City

The dengue virus is the most dangerous one that mosquitoes may spread to people. Despite attempts by the government, dengue outbreaks are becoming increasingly common in Bangladesh. Interventions in public health rely heavily on KAP (knowledge, attitude, and practice) studies. The primary goal of this research is to forecast the occurrence of dengue disease in the city of Dhaka using methods from machine learning and time series analysis and then to compare the models in order to find the one with the lowest MAPE. From January 2016 through July 2021, monthly data were retrieved for this study from WHO and the Directorate General of Health and Services (DGHS). According to the findings of this research, neural networks outperform time series analysis when it comes to making predictions. The best-fitted neural network (NN) model was found in model 04 with 05 hidden layers which produced the minimum error model with the value of error 0.003032557, and the values of RMSE and MAPE are 7.588889e − 06 and 1.15273, respectively, for the prediction of the dengue fever in Dhaka city. In contrast, the original dengue data in the time series analysis is not stationary. Take the difference and run the unit root test by the augmented Dickey–Fuller (ADF) test to make it stationary. The dengue data series is stationary at the first-order difference, as evidenced by the ACF and PACF, which show no noticeable spike in the first-order difference. The ARIMA (6, 1, 1) model with the lowest AIC = −251.8, RMSE = 0.0310797, and MAPE = 15.2892 is the best choice model for predicting the dengue death rate. Therefore, from these two models, the NN model gives better prediction performance with the lowest value of MAPE. So, the neural network gives better prediction performance than time series analysis. The NN model forecasted 12-month death rates of dengue fever that suggest the death rate in dengue fever falling month by month. This study is more innovative than any other research because this research approach is different from any other research approach. The model selection criteria are based on the most effective performance metrics MAPE, indicating the lowest error and better prediction performance. Therefore, from this research, the author suggests machine learning gives better prediction performance than time series analysis for any other prediction performance.

Impact of Educational Intervention on Knowledge, Attitude & Practice About Pharmacovigilance in Nursing Students in A Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital in India: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: It is crucial for healthcare professionals to know how to report adverse drug reactions (ADRs). To improve reporting rates, it is essential to improve knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of healthcare professionals regarding Pharmacovigilance (PV) and adverse drug reactions (ADR) reporting. According to previous studies, there has been a lack of knowledge in nursing students regarding Pharmacovigilance (PV) and reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADR). Hence, this study was planned to assess the impact of educational intervention on nursing students' knowledge, attitude, and practice of pharmacovigilance at a tertiary care teaching hospital in India. Materials and Methods: This was an interventional study conducted among 93 BSc nursing students at a tertiary care teaching hospital, India. Each participant was explained the purpose of study and asked to fill in a questionnaire about their knowledge, attitude and practice of pharmacovigilance. The post-KAP questionnaire was re-circulated among participants at the end of the intervention and data was analyzed using Chi square test.    Results: The study involved 93 BSc nursing students aged 21.52 ± 1.11 years, with a male to female ratio of 1:2. All statistical calculations were performed using Graph Pad prism v10.1.0. Results showed significant differences in understanding pharmacovigilance between pre-intervention and post-intervention, and a significant change in attitudes towards pharmacovigilance due to the educational intervention. A statistically greater proportion of students learned about Pharmacovigilance and ADR reporting forms. Conclusion: The Continuing Medical Education (CME) and group discussions significantly enhanced the knowledge and attitude of nursing students regarding pharmacovigilance.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices related to dog bite and its management among adults in rural Maharashtra with reference to their literacy status: a cross sectional study

Background: In India, 97% of human rabies is transmitted by dogs. Rabies is 100% fatal but 100% preventable by vaccination. In rural community, there exists a considerable gap in knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) related to dog bite and its management. So, study was planned to assess same with reference to literacy status among adults. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in rural field practice area of Rajiv Gandhi medical college in Maharashtra during April to June 2023. Sample size was estimated. Simple random sampling technique was used to select the subjects. Data was collected by personal interview using pretested questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied. The statistical level of significance was fixed at p<0.05. Results: Of the 254 subjects interviewed, 208 (81.89%) were literate and 46 (18.11%) were illiterate, 224 (88.19%) subjects knew about rabies disease of which 190 (91.35%) were literate (p<0.05), 208 (81.89%) subjects mentioned that the dog bite leads to rabies of which 178 (85.58%) were literate (p<0.05), 172 (67.72%) said rabies can be prevented through vaccination of which 151 (72.60%) were literate (p<0.05), 179 (70.47%) said washing dog bite wound can reduce chance of rabies of which 158 (75.96%) were literate (p<0.05), 88 (34.65%) subjects have given history of dog bite. Literate subjects were having better knowledge, positive attitudes and healthy practices related to dog bite and its management. Conclusions: The gap in knowledge, attitude and practices about dog bite and its management among the subjects can be reduced by increasing literacy status, health education and focusing on communication services in rural area.

Preliminary Study on Evaluation of Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) of Pharmacy Workers on Generic Vs. Branded Medicine in Colombo District, Sri Lanka

Pharmacists, apprentice pharmacists and non-pharmacists belong to the same umbrella of pharmacy workers as they all work in a pharmacy. They perform a wide range of tasks within the pharmacy. In addition to ensuring that the medications patients are prescribed are appropriate, speciality pharmacists also help patients with concerns and provide advice on how to take their medications and potential side effects. Therefore, pharmacy employees must have the right knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours for a pharmacy to run well and to provide the right medication along with the right guidance. This study aimed to investigate pharmacy workers' knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) in the Colombo district. A descriptive cross-sectional study was performed among pharmacy workers in the Colombo district, including pharmacists and non-pharmacists, using a structured questionnaire. The ethical clearance was obtained from the Ethics Review Committee, CINEC Campus. Out of 100 participants, 15% were pharmacists, 37% were assistant pharmacists and 48% were pharmacy-supporting workers. Among the participants, 60% agreed with substituting generics for branded medicines in all cases where a generic is available. While 14% disagreed with that, 26% were neutral. However, 61% believed some medicine brands are more effective, and 6% disagreed. Among participants, 33% mentioned that sometimes they believe some brands are more effective. Further, 5% of participants always dispense other brands in addition to the brand which the doctor has prescribed. While 89 % are only dispensed to other brands when the prescribed brand is unavailable, 6% have never done so. Out of the 5 % of participants who always dispense other brands 20% are pharmacists and 80% are non-pharmacists. Also, 93% of participants usually inform the patients when they change the brand, and 7% are not informed. According to the results, some workers still needed to have adequate KAP regarding generic and brand of drugs. Hence, it is concluded that some healthcare workers at pharmacies require further improvement based on KAP.

Knowledge, attitude and practices regarding antimicrobial use and resistance among community members of Mtendere Township in Lusaka, Zambia: findings and implications on antimicrobial stewardship

Background: Antibiotic resistance is a public health problem affecting all countries and leads to an increase in morbidity and mortality rates. In Zambia, there is little information on the knowledge, attitude, and practices of community members about antibiotic use and resistance. This study assessed the knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) regarding antimicrobial use (AMU) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among community members in Mtendere township of Lusaka Zambia. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that was conducted from May 2020 to August 2020 using a structured questionnaire among 369 Mtendere residents. The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0. Results: Of the 369 participants, 50.9% were male and 62.1% were aged between 18 and 29 years. Overall, this study found a poor KAP (38% good knowledge, 58% positive attitudes, and 52% good practices) regarding AMU and AMR. More than half of the participants 66.7% (246/369) had heard of antibiotics, 33.6% heard of AMR, and 23% heard of antimicrobial-resistant infections. Most of the participants 48.2% were not aware that AMR is a public health issue. A total of 52.8% (195/369) of the participants said they did not take antibiotics without consulting a doctor or pharmacist, translating into a prevalence of self-medication of 47.2%. Conclusions: This study showed that Mtendere residents had poor KAP towards antibiotic use and resistance. There is a need to implement community-based interventional campaigns including antimicrobial stewardship programmes address the gaps in KAP identified in this study.

Detection of selected antimicrobial residues in red meat and kidney of beef cattle slaughtered at Nekemte municipal abattoir, Ethiopia.

Antibiotics are commonly used drugs in farm animals for therapeutic, prophylactic and diagnosis purposes. As a result of the use of antibiotics in livestock, residues of antibiotics may be present in animal-derived foods, especially in meat. This study aimed at determining the antibiotic residues in cattle slaughtered at Nekemte municipal abattoir and assessing the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) level of the community about antibiotic residue in food of cattle origin. A cross-sectional study was conducted on randomly selected kidney and muscle samples slaughtered at Nekemte municipal abattoir. The samples were collected aseptically and analysed using liquid chromatography mass spectrometer. In addition the KAP of cattle handlers, butcher men and meat users were collected using structured questionnaire. The data was analysed by SPSS and intercooled Stata version 7.0, 2001. Results are presented as percentages and frequency distributions in tabular and graphical form. From 120 individuals interviewed, only 25.83% knew about withdrawal time and had limited knowledge on effect of antibiotic residue on human health, whereas about 47.5% did not heard about antibiotic residue in meat. Tetracycline was detected in all the sampled meat 60 (100%), whereas oxytetracycline residues were detected in half 15 (50%) of the samples. In the current study doxycycline, sulphadiazine, penicillin G and enrofloxacin were not detected in all samples. Oxytetracycline residue levels ranged from 0.00 to 463.35µg/kg for the kidney and 0.00 to 354.55µg/kg for muscle samples. About 10% of kidney and 3.33% muscle samples collected had oxytetracycline residues above maximum residue limits. In general, the study revealed that oxytetracycline residues were prevalent among antimicrobial residues analysed from the study area. The study indicated the presence of high antimicrobial residue and hence exposes for antimicrobial resistance of pathogens warranting coordinated effort to mitigate its health effect on the animal and hence human being.

Knowledge, attitudes and practice towards postoperative nursing of patients with digit replantation and skin flap transplantation among new nurses in Beijing: a cross-sectional survey

ObjectiveTo explore the knowledge, attitudes and practice (KAP) towards the postoperative nursing of patients with digit replantation and skin flap transplantation among new nurses.DesignCross-sectional survey.SettingTwo tertiary medical centres in Beijing,...

Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) of adults on the uses and relationships with water in the communes of Sô-Ava, Aguégués and N’dali in Benin

Bilharzia (Schistosomiasis) is a neglected tropical disease prevalent in endemic areas and causes many health problems related to water sanitation. Objective: This study aims to determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices of adults on the uses and relationships with water, which, although vital for humans, sometimes generates water-borne diseases including Bilharzia in endemic areas. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study of knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) carried out among 415 households on uses and relationships with water. The calculated sampling made it possible to survey 415 targeted households. The qualitative data collected is transcribed and analyzed. The analysis of quantitative data is carried out using the Student’s T-test and Barlett’s T-test using STATA software version 2015. Results: The study showed that 92.54% of respondents knew the symptoms of the disease, 62.40% associate it with the consumption of unsanitary water, 86.75% declare the appearance of blood in the urine as the main symptom, 73.01% of households use water from the backwater for domestic purposes, 84.34% of respondents are willing to participate in communication for behavior change. Conclusion: The communes of Aguégués, Sô Ava and N’dali remain areas with endemic potential for schistosomiasis infestation. Attitudes and practices such as swimming, urination in fresh water, fishing and agricultural activities without any health and hygiene precautions observed and recorded are unfavorable to the elimination of schistosomiasis La Bilharziose (Schistosomiase) est une maladie tropicale négligée répandue dans les zones endémiques et qui cause de nombreux problèmes de santé liés à l'assainissement de l'eau. Objectif : Cette étude a pour objectif de déterminer les connaissances, attitudes et pratiques des adultes sur les usages et rapports avec l’eau qui bien ayant un caractère vital pour l’homme est parfois génératrice des maladies hydriques dont la bilharziose dans les zones endémiques. Matériels et Méthodes : Il s’agit d’une étude transversale, descriptive et analytique des connaissances, attitudes et pratiques (CAP) réalisée auprès 415 ménages sur les usages et rapports avec l’eau. L’échantillonnage calculé a permis d’enquêter 415 ménages ciblés. Les données qualitatives recueillies sont transcrites et analysées. L’analyse des données quantitatives est réalisée grâce au test t de Student et de Barlett à l’aide du logiciel STATA version 2015. Résultats : L’étude a montré que 92,54% des enquêtés connaissent les symptômes de la maladie, 62.40% l’associent à la consommation de l’eau insalubre, 86,75% déclarent comme symptôme principal l’apparition du sang dans les urines, 73,01 % des ménages utilisent l’eau du marigot à des fins domestiques, 84,34 % des enquêtés sont disposés à participer à une communication pour un changement de comportement. Conclusion : Les communes des Aguégués, Sô Ava et N’dali demeurent des zones à potentialités endémiques à l’infestation bilharzienne. Les attitudes et pratiques telles que les baignades, les mictions dans les eaux douces, les activités de la pêche et de l’agriculture sans aucune précaution sanitaire d’hygiène observées et recensées sont défavorables à l’élimination de la schistosomiase.

Development and validation of a nomogram to predict medication risk based on a knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) survey of residents in Shanxi Province, China.

Unsafe medication practices and medication errors are a major cause of harm in healthcare systems around the world. This study aimed to explore the factors that influence the risk of medication and provide medication risk evaluation model for adults in Shanxi province, China. The data was obtained from the provincial questionnaire from May to December 2022, relying on the random distribution of questionnaires and online questionnaires by four hospitals in Shanxi Province. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to explore the factors affecting the KAP score of residents. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the independent risk factors, and the nomogram was verified by receiver operating characteristic curve, calibration and decision curve analysis. A total of 3,388 questionnaires were collected, including 3,272 valid questionnaires. The average scores of drugs KAP were 63.2 ± 23.04, 33.05 ± 9.60, 23.67 ± 6.75 and 33.16 ± 10.87, respectively. On the evaluation criteria of the questionnaire, knowledge was scored "fair", attitude and practice were scored "good". Sex, monthly income, place of residence, insurance status, education level, and employment were regarded as independent risk factors for medication and a nomogram was established by them. Males, low-income, and low-educated people are important factors affecting the risk of medication. The application of the model can help residents understand the risk of their own medication behavior and reduce the harm of medication.

An exploratory study to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of Lebanese residents towards acrylamide.

For years, heat treatment has been an essential method for ensuring mature food that meet the desired quality and safety characteristics. However, this process could lead to the formation of harmful compounds such as acrylamide. In this study we aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAPs) of the Lebanese population toward the potential risk associated with acrylamide. An online survey (n = 598) was conducted among residents in Lebanon aged 18 years and above. The survey was divided into five sections including participants' sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge, attitude and practice sections, and some questions related to consumer's preferences. The results showed that the majority of the participants had low food safety knowledge regarding acrylamide. Specifically, 82.9% of the consumers had no idea about the chemical, its formation, the foods with a high risk of acrylamide formation and the health risks associated with its exposure. Despite lack of knowledge, good domestic food practices (storage, pre-treatment) were noticed among participants. Moreover, the majority of consumers (> 80%) showed positive attitude towards proper acrylamide labeling. Participants with a bachelor's degree appeared to have a more positive attitude toward food safety compared to those with no qualifications (p<0.001). Despite the high consumption of acrylamide by the consumers in Lebanon through fried potatoes, bread, and coffee, the majority have no idea about acrylamide's presence in food, its sources and its adverse health effects. Raising awareness among the public, involving policy makers in addressing the issue of clear labeling and encouraging the adoption of alternative practices to reduce acrylamide are all crucial to protect consumers' health in Lebanon and promote healthier food consumption habits.

Assessing students’ environmental literacy on sustainability through Knowledge -Attitude-Practice (K-A-P) approach in the Ecosystem Discovery Journey (EDJ) Programme

A successful transition towards sustainability in the university context requires incorporation of three important aspects based on knowledge, beliefs, values and actions among all stakeholders, particularly students, through environmental education and literacy. Hence, this study aims to assess the level of environmental literacy, encompassing knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of undergraduate students enrolled in the LMCP1522: Ecosystem Discovery Journey (EDJ) course in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. A quantitative study was conducted, involving a survey and structured questionnaires completed by 108 students, also known as Eco-volunteers (Ekorelawan). The collected data were analysed by applying the descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings showed a high level of environmental knowledge (94.4%), positive environmental attitude (56.5%) and fair/moderate environmental practice (69.5%) among students. The study also found positive and significant relationships between environmental knowledge, attitude and practice among the students through Spearman correlation test. The analysis discovered that students acquired environmental knowledge through electronic media, particularly social media as their primary source. The findings of the study illustrated a general depiction of environmental literacy level among students and provided general direction for policy discussion with respect to environmental education in Malaysian higher education institutions.

Association Between the Improvement of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Hypertension Prevention and Blood Pressure Control-A Cluster Randomized Controlled Study.

Hypertension-related knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of hypertensive patients can affect the awareness, treatment and control of hypertension. However, little attention has been paid to the association between the change of hypertension preventive KAP and blood pressure (BP) control in occupational population using longitudinal data. We assess the effectiveness of a workplace-based multicomponent hypertension intervention program on improving the level of KAP of hypertension prevention, and the association between improvement in KAP and BP control during intervention. From January 2013 to December 2014, workplaces across 20 urban regions in China were randomized to either the intervention group (n = 40) or control group (n = 20) using a cluster randomized control method. All employees in each workplace were asked to complete a cross-sectional survey to screen for hypertension patients. Hypertension patients in the intervention group were given a 2-year workplace-based multicomponent hypertension intervention for BP control. The level of hypertension prevention KAP and BP were assessed before and after intervention in the two groups. Overall, 3331 participants (2658 in the intervention group and 673 in the control group) were included (mean [standard deviation] age, 46.2 [7.7] years; 2723 men [81.7%]). After 2-year intervention, the KAP qualified rate was 63.2% in the intervention groups and 50.1% in the control groups (odds ratio = 1.65, 95% CI, 1.36∼2.00, P < .001). Compared with the control group decreased in the qualified rate of each item of hypertension preventive KAP questionnaire, all the items in the intervention group increased to different degrees. The increase of KAP score was associated with the decrease of BP level after intervention. For 1 point increase in KAP score, systolic blood pressure (SBP) decreased by .28mmHg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) decreased by .14mmHg [SBP: β = -.28, 95%CI: -.48∼-.09, P = .004; DBP: β = -.14, 95%CI: -.26∼-.02, P = .024]. SBP and DBP was significantly in manual labor workers (SBP: β = -.34, 95%CI: -.59∼-.09, P = .008; DBP: β = -.23, 95%CI: -.38∼-.08, P = .003), workers from private enterprise, state-owned enterprise (SOE) (SBP: β = -.40, 95%CI: -.64∼-.16, P = .001; DBP: β = -.21, 95%CI: -.36∼-.06, P = .005) and a workplace with an affiliated hospital (SBP: β = -.31, 95%CI: -.52∼-.11, P = .003; DBP: β = -.16, 95%CI: -.28∼-.03, P = .016). The improvement of knowledge (SBP: β = -.29, 95%CI: -.56∼-.02, P = .038; DBP: β = -.12, 95%CI: -.29∼.05, P = .160), as well as attitude (SBP: β = -.71, 95%CI: -1.25∼-.18, P = .009; DBP: β = .18, 95%CI: -.23∼.59, P = .385) and behavior (SBP: β = -.73, 95%CI: -1.22∼-.23, P = .004; DBP: β = -.65, 95%CI: -.97∼-.33, P < .001) was gradually strengthened in relation to BP control. This study found that workplace-based multicomponent hypertension intervention can effectively improve the level of hypertension preventive KAP among employees, and the improvement of KAP levels were significantly associated with BP control. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry No. ChiCTR-ECS-14004641.

Knowledge Attitude and Practice (KAP) and Health Impacts of MRI Among the Patients Attending MRI in Dhaka City

&amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Introduction:&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an important diagnostic method in modern clinical medicine. Patients’ knowledge about MRI is of utmost importance for optimizing the workflow, safety, and patient comfort and saving valuable time for the MRI department.&amp;lt;i&amp;gt; Objective:&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; The aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) and health impacts of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) among the patients attending in Dhaka city. &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Methodology:&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; This was a cross-sectional prospective study carried out at the department of Radiology and Imaging in Islami Bank Central Hospital &amp; Popular Diagnostic Center, Dhaka, Bangladesh during January, 2022 to June, 2022. A purposive random sampling technique was used and a total of 200 cases referred for MRI, from OPD, aged above 15 years were enrolled in this study. The collected data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software, version 23.0. The ethical clearance of this study was obtained from the Ethics Committee of School of Public Health &amp; Life Science, University of South Asia, and Dhaka, Bangladesh. &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Results:&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; A total of (n=200) cases referred for MRI, from OPD, aged above 15 years were enrolled in this study. The majority 85(42.5%) patients belonged to the age group (46-60) and followed by 72(36%),(36-45) years, 22(11%), (26-35) years, 13(6.5%), (15-25) years and 8(4%), &amp;gt;60 years. The maximum132 (66%) patients were male and the minimum 68(34%) were female. The maximum, 61(30.5%) were graduate and followed by 50(25%) HSC, 30(15%) SSC, 21(10.5%) Primary and 6(3%) had no formal education. Among the study patients, 110(55%) had previous knowledge about MRI. 35(17.5%) patients had previous knowledge about the health effect of MRI.74 (37%) patients had seen close contact of relative/family member to face MRI examination. 196(89%) patients opined conversation is very important before MRI examination. 177(88.5%) patients felt nervous to conduct MRI test and 92(46%) patients practiced MRI before. The maximum 110(55%) felt discomfort. 86(43%) patients opined MRI took long time. 100(50%) of the patients observed metal effect during MRI, 78(39%) patients had MRI phobia and the maximum 18(9%) patients had allergic reaction. &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Conclusion:&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; This study investigated (55%) study patients had previous knowledge about MRI. (17.5%) patients had previous knowledge about the health effect of MRI.(37%) patients felt to have close contact of relative/family member is needed during MRI test,(89%) patients had positive attitude to conversation before MRI examination, 177(88.5%) patients felt nervous to conduct MRI test and (46%) patients practiced MRI. The major impact of MRI on health was discomfort and MRI phobia.

Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Chagas a Neglected Tropical Disease in Rural Communities of the Colombian Caribbean, CHAGCOV Study.

Chagas disease (CD) a Neglected Tropical Diseases is an important public health issue in countries where is still endemic, included in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Traditionally restricted to rural areas with diverse routes of transmissions from vectorial to oral with acute manifestations but being more common diagnosed in chronic stages. The aim of this investigation was to characterize the Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) related to Chagas disease (CD) in two rural settlements of the Colombian Caribbean with previous records of the disease and/or the parasite. A cross-sectional descriptive study was made in two rural settlements in Colombia and surveillance instrument was developed to measure Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) related to Chagas disease (CD). In a population with > 60% women and access to social security around 66.5%; 81,6% were homeowners with access to water and electricity > 90% but only 9% of sewerage. The level of knowledge about CD was around 62% but lack of specificity about comprehension of transmission routes (74,6%), and symptoms (85,3%) were found; concluding that 86% of the surveyed sample had very poor level of knowledge about the disease despite preventive campaigns carried out in the two communities studied. Despite of a low frequency of CD in this Caribbean areas, the presence of vector, risk factors plus poor level of knowledge about the disease justify that public health intervention strategies should be implemented and monitored over time to maintain uninterrupted surveillance of Chagas Disease.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices among Chinese reproductive-age women toward uterine adenomyosis.

This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) among Chinese reproductive-age women toward uterine adenomyosis. This web-based cross-sectional study was conducted between April 2023 and September 2023 at the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University. A self-designed questionnaire was developed to collect demographic information of reproductive-age women, and assess their KAP toward uterine adenomyosis. A total of 520 valid questionnaires were collected. Among the participants, 127 (24.42%) were diagnosed with uterine adenomyosis, and 120 (23.08%) were accompanied by uterine fibroids. The mean knowledge, attitudes and practices scores were 3.54 ± 3.72 (possible range:0-10), 20.96 ± 3.19 (possible range:5-25) and 24.01 ± 4.95 (possible range:7-35), respectively. The structural equation model demonstrated that knowledge had direct effects on attitudes and practices, as indicated by a path coefficient of 0.714 (p < 0.001) and 1.510 (p < 0.001), respectively. Moreover, attitudes had direct effects on practices, with a path coefficient of 0.226 (p = 0.001). The findings revealed that reproductive-age women have insufficient knowledge, negative attitudes, and poor practices toward the uterine adenomyosis. Comprehensive training programs are needed to improve reproductive-age women practices in this area.

IJCM_298A: Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice about Hepatitis B among Medical Students

Background: Hepatitis B is a major public health problem. India is in the intermediate HBV endemicity zone (HBsAg prevalence among the general population ranges from 2% to 8%) with 50 million cases which makes it the second largest global pool of chronic HBV infection. Health workers, especially physicians and medical students are always in direct contact with patients and are vulnerable to acquire Hepatitis B infection. Present study aims to evaluate Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) towards Hepatitis B infection and vaccination among medical students. Objective: To evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of medical students regarding Hepatitis B infection and vaccination. Methodology: This was a cross sectional study conducted in Government Medical College. Junior resident and medical undergraduates were involved to assess their Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) about Hepatitis B infection and vaccination using a self-administered questionnaire. Results: Out of 317 participants 44.4% were males and 55.6% were females. 97.2% medical students have heard about the Hep B infection. 97.8% respondents indicated that they were aware of availability of a vaccine for hepatitis B. 54.6% (173) of total participants had received the Hepatitis B vaccination, of which only 142(82.08%) had received 3 doses of Hepatitis B vaccination. Conclusion: More than 50% of the surveyed participants have been vaccinated indicates a positive trend in immunization. Further efforts are needed to ensure complete vaccination especially in high-risk medical professionals.

Effects of an intervention program to improve mental health and epilepsy care in Madagascar

BackgroundDespite the high prevalence of mental disorders and epilepsy in low- and middle-income countries, nearly 80% of patients are not treated. In Madagascar, initiatives to improve access to epilepsy and mental health care, including public awareness and training of general practitioners (GPs), were carried out between 2013 and 2018. Our study's main objective was to assess the effectiveness of these initiatives, two to five years post-intervention. MethodsThis quasi-experimental study (intervention vs. control areas) included five surveys assessing: general population's Knowledge Attitudes and Practices (KAP), GPs' KAP GPs, number of epilepsy and mental health consultations at different levels of the healthcare system, diagnostic accuracy, and treatments' availability. OutcomesIn the general population, KAP scores were higher in intervention areas for epilepsy (11.4/20 vs. 10.3/20; p = 0.003). For mental disorders, regardless of the area, KAP scores were low, especially for schizophrenia (1.1/20 and 0.1/20). Among GPs, KAP scores were higher in intervention areas for schizophrenia (6.0/10 vs. 4.5/10; p = 0.008) and epilepsy (6.9/10 vs. 6.2/10; p = 0.044). Overall, there was a greater proportion of mental health and epilepsy consultations in intervention areas (4.5% vs 2.3%). Although low, concordance between GPs' and psychiatrists' diagnoses was higher in intervention areas. There was a greater variety of anti-epileptic and psychotropic medications available in intervention areas. InterpretationThis research has helped to better understand the effectiveness of initiatives implemented in Madagascar to improve epilepsy and mental health care and to identify barriers which will need to be addressed. FundingSanofi Global Health, as part of the Fight Against STigma Program.

Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Toward Physical Literacy Among the College Students During COVID-19 School Closure.

To investigate the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) among college students toward physical literacy during COVID-19 school closure. This web-based cross-sectional study was conducted between December 9th, 2022 and December 24th, 2022 among college students during COVID-19 school closure. A self-designed questionnaire was developed to collect demographic information of the college students, and assess their KAP toward physical literacy. A total of 969 students were recruited, with mean age of 18.73±0.97 years. The majority were male (54.70%), urban residents (78.02%), majoring in engineering (58.00%), and having exercise habits (61.09%). The mean KAP scores were 6.57±0.95, 32.63±4.07, and 27.06±7.23, respectively. Positive associations were identified between knowledge and attitude (OR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.52-2.66, P < 0.001), and between attitude and practice (OR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.12-1.22, P < 0.001). A bachelor's degree and being in the sophomore year were positively associated with knowledge (OR = 1.51-4.05, all P < 0.05). Urban residence and being in the sophomore year were negatively associated with attitude (OR = 0.43-0.59, all P < 0.05), while having daily exercise habits showed the opposite trend (OR = 1.85, 95% CI: 1.33-2.57, P < 0.001). Father's education level of high school and technical secondary school (OR = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.37-0.93, P = 0.023) and having daily exercise habits (OR = 3.88, 95% CI: 2.72-5.55, P < 0.001) were associated with practice. College students had sufficient knowledge, moderate attitudes and negative practices towards physical literacy during COVID-19 school closure. The findings hold significant potential for developing educational programs, fostering healthier lifestyles and promoting mental well-being among college students during public health outbreaks.

Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Towards Psoriasis Among Patients and Their Family Members.

KAP studies serve to enhance health consciousness and furnish foundational data for appraising, strategizing, and enacting disease management and prejudice eradication initiatives. There remains a dearth of published studies elucidating the dimensions of knowledge, attitudes, and practices among psoriasis patients in China. To investigate the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) towards psoriasis among patients and their family members in Northern China. This web-based, cross-sectional study was conducted among psoriasis patients and their family members through a self-administered questionnaire. Among patients (n=260), their mean KAP scores were 9.76±5.69 (range: 0-19), 35.64±11.48 (range: 14-70), and 56.73±10.98 (range: 16-80), respectively. Among family members (n=237), their mean KAP scores were 11.93±5.34 (range: 0-19), 35.80±4.34 (range: 8-40), and 37.04±4.38 (range: 8-40), respectively. Structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis for patients indicated significant and negative path relations between knowledge and attitudes (β=-2.271, P<0.001), and between knowledge and practice (β=-0.398, P<0.001). Extended SEM analysis, which divides knowledge into K1, K2, and K3 parts, showed negative path relations between K3 and attitude (β=-1.300, P=0.002), between attitude and practice (β=-0.634, P<0.001). Moreover, SEM for family members showed positive path relations between knowledge and attitude (β=1.536, P<0.001), between attitude and practice (β=0.682, P<0.001). Patients in Northern China demonstrated insufficient knowledge, negative attitude, and proactive practice, while their family members had insufficient knowledge, positive attitude, and proactive practice toward psoriasis. It is recommended to implement educational interventions addressing knowledge gaps among patients and families.