Knowledge, Attitude And Practice Research Articles

A knowledge and preventive approach to COVID-19 and vaccination acceptance among Afghan immigrants in Iran

PurposeConsidering the importance of knowledge, attitudes and practice (KAP) in communities toward COVID-19 and the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination in the control of this disease, this study aims to evaluate and compare the KAP level toward COVID-19 and the acceptance rate of COVID-19 vaccination between the Afghan immigrant population and IraniansDesign/methodology/approachThis cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in 2021 on Afghan immigrants, Afghan-neighboring Iranians and Afghan nonneighboring Iranians. Of the 885 people who participated in the survey, 295 from each group were randomly selected. Data collection tools were the following questionnaires: KAP toward COVID-19 and acceptance and attitude toward COVID-19 vaccination.FindingsA total of 837 participants were included for data analysis. According to the findings, the KAP score on COVID-19 in Afghan immigrants was lower than the group of Iranians. Compared with Iranians, the score of nonneighboring Iranians was higher than the neighboring Iranians with Afghan immigrants. This difference in the mean scores suggests a statistically significant difference in the three groups (p < 0.0001). Among demographic data, the relationship between gender, education, type of job, income level and age with KAP indicated a significant difference in the total population studied. In the group of Afghan immigrants, the most likely reason for accepting the vaccination was the employer’s recommendation (55.63%). In comparison, the neighboring and nonneighboring Iranian groups with Afghan immigrants stated that they would receive the vaccine as soon as possible (49.22% and 63.22%, respectively).Originality/valueConsidering the low KAP score in the immigrant population in this study, these people are more vulnerable to the health and socioeconomic effects of COVID-19; therefore, the host countries have more challenges and responsibilities to protect these populations.

The impact of education level on Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices towards COVID-19 in Edo State, Nigeria.

For effective Public Health measures, factors that influence Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) need to be understood. In this paper, we document the relationship between levels of education on the KAP towards COVID-19 among the population of Edo State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional KAP questionnaire was delivered across 13 communities. The study population was dichotomized into those who had or had not completed secondary education. Chi-square tests were conducted to determine statistical significance. Of the 538 participants, 30% had completed secondary education. Those with secondary education were significantly more likely to recognize symptoms of COVID-19 (P<0.001). For attitudes, only one option showed a statistically significant association with 78.4% of those who did not complete secondary education having a high confidence in the church compared with 66% of those who had (P=0.022). For practices, those who have completed secondary education practiced all of the supplied measures more than those who had not, except for taking herbal supplements. Higher levels of education impacts on knowledge and practices but has less impact on attitudes regarding how well certain individuals/organizations can handle the pandemic. Findings highlighted the importance of tailoring public health communication and strategies to local populations to improve the efficacy.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of patients with chronic pharyngitis toward laryngopharyngeal reflux in Suzhou, China

BackgroundThis study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of patients with chronic pharyngitis in Suzhou, China toward laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR).MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted in patients with chronic pharyngitis in Suzhou, China at the otolaryngology outpatient clinic of the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University between November, 2022, and May, 2023. Data was collected through a self-designed online questionnaire encompassing the sociodemographic characteristics and three dimensions of KAP. The questionnaire was administered using SoJump, and data were exported from this platform. Subsequently, statistical analysis, including Structural Equation Modeling, was performed using SPSS 22 software to evaluate the KAP scores.ResultsA total of 487 valid questionnaires were collected, with 275 (56.35%) female patients. The mean score of KAP were 4.76 ± 2.93 (possible range: 0–11), 33.10 ± 4.46 (possible range: 8–40), 31.29 ± 6.04 (possible range: 8–40), respectively. Pearson’s correlation analysis showed significant positive correlations between knowledge and attitude dimensions (r = 0.413, P < 0.001), knowledge and practice dimensions (r = 0.355, P < 0.001), and attitude and practice dimensions (r = 0.481, P < 0.001). Structural equation modeling revealed that education exhibited positive effect on knowledge (β = 0.476, P < 0.001) and attitude (β = 0.600, P < 0.001), and having family history of chronic pharyngitis showed positive effect on knowledge (β = 0.580, P = 0.047), experienced with reflux symptoms showed positive effect on knowledge (β = 0.838, P = 0.001) and attitude (β = 0.631, P = 0.085). Moreover, knowledge showed positive effect on attitude (β = 0.555, P < 0.001) and practice (β = 0.351, P < 0.001). Attitude, in turn, showed positive effect on practice (β = 0.511, P < 0.001).ConclusionPatients with chronic pharyngitis had inadequate knowledge, positive attitudes and suboptimal practices toward LPR. Education, family history of chronic pharyngitis, experienced with reflux symptoms might have effect on their KAP.

Meat safety knowledge, attitude and practices of slaughterhouse workers in Kajiado, Kenya.

A major contributor to the poor meat safety status in Kenya is low level of slaughter hygiene knowledge and practices among slaughterhouse workers. The study determined knowledge, attitude and practices (KAPs) of workers from 7 small and medium slaughterhouses in Kajiado County on slaughter hygiene and meat safety. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered to 78 workers, managers and meat inspectors. Majority (92.3%) of workers lacked slaughter hygiene and meat safety training. Workers had high knowledge with an overall mean score of 19.2±2 out of 24, high personal hygiene scores (9.9±0.8 out of 11), moderate carcass contamination scores (4.2±0.8 out of 6), meat-borne illness score (3.1±1 out of 4) and temperature intervention scores (2.1±0.6 out of 3). Moderate and high scores were recorded in attitude and practices and differed significantly across slaughterhouses (p<0.05) with a mean of 33±5 out of 40 and 59.3±3.5 out of 65, respectively. There was no significant difference in KAP scores between trained and untrained workers. Carcass decontamination practices by workers differed from that of the meat inspector. Surface and handheld equipment sanitization practices were observed as poor. Medical testing practice was poor and significantly different across slaughterhouses (p<0.001) with infection rates of zoonoses and occupational hazards as high as 33% in some slaughterhouses. The study concluded that although high knowledge and neutral attitude were scored by slightly more than half of the workers, poor practices were reported and observed in carcass decontamination, equipment and facility sanitization and worker medical examination. Slaughter facilities in Kajiado County have an opportunity to offer their workers role-specific training, the provision of personal protective equipment, hygiene and sanitation facilities and strict oversight of worker medical testing.

Seafood in Uruguay: knowledge, attitudes and practices of professional chefs in a country with its back to the sea

Despite having valuable fisheries resources, including diversity, Uruguay shows a deficient level of seafood consumption, although it is highly recommended for the human diet. However, many of the country's fishery resources may be exploited unsustainably. The recent increase in gastronomic activity makes professional chefs key actors who could influence the consumption of seafood products sustainably. In this context, this paper aimed to analyze the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of a focus group in the gastronomic sector, assessing their potential as promoters of changes in eating habits towards seafood products. Results showed that the knowledge of seafood products was generally very low. The topics that showed the best responses were those related to management, such as institutions and tools. The least known aspects refer to fishing seasons ("Zafras") and the origin of the products (wild or aquaculture). Respondents showed a positive attitude toward the need to encourage seafood consumption in the country following sustainability criteria. Seafood products were well represented on specialized restaurant menus. Certain practices are recurrent to highlight these products in the offer, such as suggesting "catch of the day" or varying species according to availability. Regarding the purchase of seafood products, practices show the importance of seasonal supply, their sustainability and the personal preferences of the chefs. The importance of direct purchases from small-scale fishermen stands out. It is concluded that acquiring greater knowledge by professionals could improve the food practices they develop.

Knowledge, attitude and practice regarding covid-19 among under graduates of Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal

Background: Corona Virus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) is a communicable disease that can be fatal to those who contract with the disease. Lack of sufficient knowledge, negative attitude, and unsafe practises, all lead to spread the disease. Therefore, the researchers have aimed to measure the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding the Covid-19 among the undergraduates. Undergraduate students are the future concern of society; those who are able to aware whole community. So, they should be aware of the disease to prevent its transmission in society. &#x0D; Methods: A descriptive survey method was used for the study. Random sampling technique was preferred to draw out samples for the study from Undergraduates population of Paschim Medinipur district, West Bengal. A Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) tool regarding Covid-19 has administered for data collection among 615 participants of Paschim Medinipur.&#x0D; Results: The result showed that, overall mean score of Covid-19 knowledge, attitude and practice was 14.09, 50.79 and 8.74 respectively, that’s indicating moderate level of knowledge, high level of attitude and good practice regarding Covid-19. There are significant differences between male and female, rural and urban in knowledge section. In case of attitude section, there are significant differences between rural and urban undergraduate students. There are also significant differences between male and female undergraduate students in practice section.&#x0D; Conclusion: This study concluded that UG students in Paschim Medinipur district have moderate knowledge, positive attitude and sound practice regarding Covid-19. Continuous awareness is more important to UG students, especially male students for the prevention of Covid-19.

Knowledge, attitude and practice toward oral anticoagulants among patients with atrial fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common cardiac arrhythmia that increases the risk of stroke and other cardiovascular complications. Oral anticoagulants (OACs) are effective in reducing this risk. To investigate the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) toward OACs among patients with AF. This web-based cross-sectional study was conducted at local Hospital between April 2023 and May 2023, and enrolled AF patients. A total of 491 valid questionnaires were collected, with 293 (59.67%) male and 73.93% resided in urban areas. The KAP scores were 4.64 ± 3.28, 21.09 ± 2.33 and 26.18 ± 2.15, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that junior high school [odd ratio (OR) = 0.346, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.145-0.825, P = 0.017], junior college/bachelor and above (OR = 6.545, 95% CI = 2.863-14.963, P < 0.001), monthly income ≥5,000 (OR = 2.343, 95% CI = 1.074-5.111, P = 0.032), never taken OACs (OR = 0.015, 95% CI = 0.004-0.059, P < 0.001), and having been diagnosed AF (6-10 months, OR = 4.003, 95% CI = 1.653-9.692, P = 0.002;over 20 months, OR = 4.046, 95% CI = 1.753-9.340, P = 0.001) were independently associated with knowledge. Knowledge (OR = 1.376, 95% CI = 1.162-1.629, P < 0.001), junior high school (OR = 0.258, 95% CI = 0.084-0.792, P = 0.018), monthly income ≥5,000 (OR = 5.486, 95% CI = 1.834-16.412, P = 0.002), and never undergone AF ablation (OR = 0.214, 95% CI = 0.097-0.471, P < 0.001) were independently associated with attitude. Knowledge (OR = 1.128, 95% CI = 1.030-1.235, P = 0.009), 70-79 years (OR = 2.193, 95% CI = 1.166-4.124, P = 0.015) and ≥80 years (OR = 4.375, 95% CI = 2.034-9.411, P < 0.001) were independently associated with proactive practice. Patients with AF had inadequate knowledge, suboptimal attitude and inactive practice towards AF and OACs. Improving patient education, especially among those with lower education levels, enhances understanding and management of AF and OACs.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of oral HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among healthcare workers in the Ekurhuleni District, South Africa.

Prevention of new HIV infections is crucial for controlling the HIV epidemic. Despite HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) being one of the highly effective approaches to preventing HIV, and being freely available through primary healthcare clinics (PHCs), the uptake of HIV PrEP in South Africa (SA) is low. To understand knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAPs) of healthcare workers responsible for generating demand for HIV PrEP services, or identifying clients eligible for HIV PrEP services in PHCs in Ekurhuleni District, South Africa. We conducted a cross-sectional interviewer-administered survey among healthcare workers from 45 randomly selected PHCs in Ekurhuleni District. We collected information on participant characteristics and their KAPs regarding HIV PrEP service delivery. KAP scores were developed using a priori cut-off points and participants were categorised into binary levels of KAPs. We performed descriptive and multivariable logistic regression analysis in line with the study objectives. We enrolled 160 study participants from 1 May to 30 June 2022. About two-thirds of the participants (64.4%) were highly knowledgeable about HIV PrEP, and 58.1% self-reported practices that were considered to be good. Notably, 73.1% of participants had negative attitudes toward HIV PrEP delivery. Participants who were aged >50 years had poor HIV PrEP knowledge (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.1; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.0 - 0.4; p=0.01) compared with participants <30 years old. Participants aged 30 - 40 years had poor HIV knowledge although their association is not statistically significant. Nurses had higher HIV PrEP knowledge (aOR 11.1; 95% CI 3.8 - 32.4, p<0.001) compared with health promoters. Both nurses (aOR=0.2, 95% CI 0.1 - 0.6; p<0.001) and HIV testing service counsellors (aOR 0.3; 95% CI 0.1 - 0.9; p=0.02) had negative attitudes toward HIV PrEP, compared with health promoters. Nurses had better practices in HIV PrEP delivery compared with health promoters (aOR 2.5; 95% CI 1.0 - 5.9; p=0.04). Among the healthcare workers tasked with generating demand and identifying clients eligible for HIV PrEP services, low knowledge of HIV PrEP and negative attitudes towards HIV PrEP may be barriers to the uptake of HIV PrEP. Training healthcare workers on HIV PrEP is recommended.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the physical, mental and social health of the suburban and rural adult population in Bangladesh

Background and objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant impact on health worldwide. Adverse effect of COVID-19 on health-related quality of life is significant. This study aimed to find out the impact of COVID-19 on the physical, mental and social health of suburban and rural adult population in Bangladesh. Methods: A suburban and a rural community were purposively selected. The suburban and rural areas were located about 40 km and 130 km north and north-east of Dhaka city respectively. People aged ≥20 years in the selected communities were enrolled in the study. The investigation procedure included socio-demographic and clinical history, anthropometry, and clinical examination and laboratory investigations. Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) and 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaires were used for assessing mental and social health respectively. Knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) regarding the prevention and transmission of COVID-19 was assessed by a validated questionnaire and interview. Results: Total 385 individuals (suburban=201, rural=184) were enrolled in the study. Out of 385, 116 and 269 were male and female, respectively. Out of total 385 participants, depression, anxiety and stress were present in 113 (29.4%), 144 (37.4%) and 70 (18.2%) respectively, while 210 (54.5%) were normal. Extremely severe depression, anxiety and stress were present in 3.6%, 6% and 0.5%, respectively. Depression and anxiety did not differ between suburban and rural populations, though stress was significantly higher among the suburban (p&lt;0.05) population. Social functioning was limited in more than 50% as opposed to excellent (5.5%) or good (39.8%). Almost 60% of the participants had to cut-down schedule of heavy work. Moderate to minimal physical activities were less affected, though weakness and nervousness predominantly hindered socialization. About the prevention and transmission of COVID-19, awareness and attitude were found satisfactory (≥45%), though practice was neglected (&lt;30%). Conclusions: This is the first study in Bangladesh to report the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the physical, mental, and social health of adult suburban and rural populations. Physical and mental disabilities were evident among the studied people. Social functioning was affected by COVID-19 equally in suburban and rural participants. A well-designed cohort study is needed to obtain a real picture of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on human health and society. IMC J Med Sci. 2024; 18(1):007. DOI: https://doi.org/10.55010/imcjms.18.007 *Correspondence: MA Sayeed, Department of Community Medicine and Public Health, Ibrahim Medical College, 1/A Ibrahim Sarani, Segunbagicha, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh; Email: sayeed1950@gmail.com

Integrating wastewater reuse into water management schemes of Caribbean SIDS: A Trinidad and Tobago case study

Abstract Integrating Wastewater Reuse (WWRU) into national Water Management Schemes (WMS) is crucial as Small Island Developing States (SIDS) attempt to cope with water resource constraints in a changing climate. In 2022, the Global Environment Facility Caribbean Regional Fund (GEF CReW+) on Wastewater Management, the Ministry of Public Utilities (MPU), Trinidad and Tobago and the Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards (TTBS) spearheaded the development of a national voluntary standard for treated wastewater reuse focused on agricultural and landscaping uses. During the process, the MPU conducted a Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) and Willingness to Pay (WTP) assessment to inform the standard and subsequent implementation. Results indicated `good' knowledge on wastewater and WWRU (59.3%), however attitudes and practices were considered `poor'. Inferential Statistics performed on numerically coded survey response data revealed no statistically significant relation with the demographic factors assessed; 84.1% of respondents were willing to use treated wastewater with health concerns identified as the main barrier; 27.3% of respondents were willing to pay the same price as conventional water, while 31.2% were willing to pay 25 -50% less. This assessment can inform the implementation and pricing process and provide valuable insights to increase the uptake of WWRU in the region.

Evaluating modified effects of family factors on intervention to protect primary school students from the impact of heatwave

Identifying the factors that may impact intervention effectiveness of primary students is crucial for developing targeted intervention strategies on heatwave adaption. The purpose of the study was to assess how the family factors could affect the intervention effects of primary school students to adapt heatwave, using the data from a previously conducted primary school-based intervention study. The study recruited 648 students (9–13 years old) and their parents from two primary schools in Dongtai of Jiangsu province, China. From May to September 2017, a 5-mon intervention for enhancing knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) was implemented at the intervention school. The students' KAP scores and the family-related information were measured by designed self-administered questionnaires at intervention school and control school separately before and after intervention. The effects of the intervention were explored through the propensity score matching and difference-in-difference method (PSM-DID), and stratified analysis were conducted by family factors. The overall KAP score increased by 2.391 (95% CI: 1.881, 2.902) after intervention, which shows that the intervention was effective. The students whose parents with higher school educational attainment, parents with employment, and household number ≤3 achieved significantly higher increment of KAP scores than their counterparts. Although students whose parents in marriage achieved higher score increasing than parents not in marriage, the difference was non-significant. Our findings indicated that parental education status, working status and the household size were the influence factors of heatwave adaption interventions for primary school students. Future interventions should take parental education status, working status and household size into account to improve the effectiveness of heatwave adaption intervention for primary school students.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of the Community General Practice Teams on Dysphagia Complicated with Aspiration Pneumonia after Stroke

This cross-sectional study investigated the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of community general practice (GP) team members on dysphagia complicated with aspiration pneumonia after stroke in Shanghai between October 2022 and November 2022 using a self-administered questionnaire. A total of 551 questionnaires were collected (mean age: 37.59 ± 8.86 years, 443 (80.40%) females), including 383 (69.51%) physicians. The mean KAP scores were 6.30 ± 1.54 (possible range: 0–12), 40.32 ± 5.11 (possible range: 9–45), and 72.54 ± 13.99 (possible range: 18–90), respectively. Multivariable linear regression analyses suggested that attitude (Coef = 1.29, 95%CI: 1.09–1.50), and holding research funding (Coef = −2.70, 95%CI: −5.00–−0.50) were significantly associated with practice toward dysphagia complicated with aspiration pneumonia after stroke of community GP team members. The structural equation model (SEM) indicated that knowledge had a direct influence on attitude (β = 2.029, p &lt; 0.001) and attitude had a direct impact on practice (β = 0.710, p &lt; 0.001). Additionally, knowledge exerted both direct (β = 0.935, p = 0.016) and indirect effects (β = 1.442, p &lt; 0.001) on practice. In conclusion, this study showed that the community GP team members had poor knowledge, favorable attitudes, and proactive practices. Education and training on the management of dysphagia complicated with aspiration pneumonia after stroke are urgently needed.

Perceived knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding the medical consortium among medical staff in Sichuan, China: a cross-sectional survey

BackgroundIn China, fragmented and inefficient health care systems are common while quality resources are limited. To promote an organized, efficient system, the government launched a medical consortium policy to vertically integrate health care through the collaboration of different levels of medical care. Logically, medical staff’s knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) regarding the consortium are critical for its development. The objective of this study was to explore the KAP regarding the medical consortium among medical staff in a medical consortium in Sichuan Province, China.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted. In total, 690 medical staff members in 3 cities of Sichuan Province, China, were interviewed from November 2018 to December 2018. The questionnaire consisted of 18 items, including 4 items related to perceived knowledge, 4 items related to attitudes and 2 items related to practices, and was rated on a 5-point Likert scale (one = strongly disagree/do not know, five = strongly agree/know).ResultsThe effective response sample was 640 copies of the questionnaire, and most medical staff members (92.50%) knew about the cooperation with other hospitals in the medical consortium. Medical staff scored differently on each item in the questionnaire, with the highest score being the item ‘agreeing with the ward rounds and clinical teaching and training organized by the leading hospital’ (4.54 ± 0.76), and the lowest score being the item ‘frequency in participating in ward rounds and clinical teaching organized by the leading hospital’ (2.83 ± 1.36). In addition, the effect of demographic characteristics on KAP was evaluated by stepwise multiple regression analysis, and a significant positive correlation was found between all the studied variables by Spearman’s correlation (p < 0.05).ConclusionsThis study showed that the attitudes toward and knowledge of the medical consortium significantly contribute to practices, satisfaction with the support work performed by the leading hospital and agreement of improvement after joining the medical consortium. Thus, to improve medical staff’s KAP and satisfaction, publicity and educational programs in medical consortia are necessary, and the leading hospital should attach importance to the informatization construction and demand of different medical staff members.Clinical trial registrationThere are no clinical trials in this study.

The Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Among Makkah Physicians Towards Herpes Zoster Vaccination, Saudi Arabia, 2023.

Background Herpes zoster (HZ) is a viral disease, which is more common among the elderly and immunodeficient individuals, among which approximately 22% of cases might progress to post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN). Hence, this study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) towards HZ and its vaccination among primary health care physicians in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, 2023. Methodology This analytical cross-sectional study used an online pre-validated questionnaire and was conducted from July to August 2023. The target population included physicians working in primary healthcare (PHC) daily clinics in Makkah. Results A total of 153 participants were included in the current study. Of which 90 (58.8%) were females and 120 (78.4%) participants had chicken pox history. Around 123 (80.4%) had previously heard about shingles. The most reported source of information was physicians (63%) followed by the Internet (12.2%). Risk factors for shingles were found to be immunodeficiency (95.1%) and age (78%). Most (88.2%) participants had previously heard about the shingles vaccine and 99 (64.7%) reported that the shingles vaccine is needed even if the patient had chicken pox in the past. Most participants (82.4%) knew that the vaccine should be given to adults aged more than 50 years. About 69 (45.1%) thought that they were extremely likely to get the shingles vaccine if the doctor recommended it. Barriers to shingles vaccination among study participants included participant's perception that they were not at risk of getting shingles (33%) and concerns about vaccines' side effects (27.5%). The average knowledge score about shingles was found to be 9.51 ± 3.14 and the average knowledge score about shingles vaccine was found to be 5.43 ± 1.46. Gender was significantly associated with knowledge score about the vaccine (p-value= 0.028) where females had higher knowledge scores about shingles vaccine as compared to males. Qualification level and current Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) classification were found to be significantly associated with knowledge scores about shingles (p-value = 0.002 and 0.003, respectively). Conclusion A good level of KAP about shingles and its vaccine was found among the study participants. However, few knowledge gaps in methods of protection were assessed. Female gender, married participants and higher SCFHS qualification level were positively associated with higher levels of knowledge and awareness as compared to other groups.

Reliability and validity of a questionnaire measuring knowledge, attitude and practice regarding “oil, salt and sugar” among canteen staff

Excessive intake of oil, salt and sugar is closely associated with the prevalence of non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs). Canteen staff’s knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) about oil, salt and sugar directly affect the content in dishes and the consumers’ intake. However, no valid questionnaire is used to assess KAP among canteen staff about the “oil, salt and sugar”. Therefore, the present study aimed to establish and validate a questionnaire to evaluate the KAP of canteen staff about the “oil, salt and sugar”. This cross-sectional study was conducted among canteen staff randomly selected from three college canteens. Participants completed the questionnaire and retested it two weeks later. Internal and test–retest reliability were assessed using Cronbach’s α and Pearson correlation coefficients, respectively. Validity was assessed using the exploratory factor analysis. 100 participants finished the questionnaire, of which 66% were females with a mean age of 40.3 ± 10.5 years. The Cronbach’s α coefficients of the total questionnaire and Knowledge, Attitude and Practice dimensions were 0.822, 0.830, 0.752 and 0.700, respectively. The test–retest reliability coefficient was 0.968. In exploratory factor analysis, nine common factors were extracted, with 26 items, and the cumulative contribution rate was 70.9%. The questionnaire had a satisfactory property for measuring the KAP of the “oil, salt and sugar” among canteen staff in China.

Academics meet practitioners: Interactive exchange instead of consuming knowledge on dairy calving management.

Consensus on optimal calving management is difficult to achieve among veterinarians. Some of this discordance may stem from asymmetry between the literature written by subject matter experts (SME) and the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of non-SMEs and veterinary practitioners. Hence, the objective of this study was to assess how veterinary practitioners KAPs in calving management compared with the findings in the literature. An online questionnaire survey was conducted prior to a World Buiatrics Congress by delegates (n = 80) who attended a workshop on calving management at which the outcomes of the latter were recorded. The responses from the questionnaire and the consensus from the workshop were compared and these were compared with the literature on calving management, specifically, prediction of calving, assistance at calving and farmer training in calving management. In general, there was good agreement between the aggregated individual responses to the questionnaire and the consensuses from the workshop. The suggested methods of predicting calving were well aligned between practitioners and those researched in the literature but practitioners tended to emphasize more practical aspects of prediction while the literature tends to focus more on the effectiveness of various predictor devices. Practitioners tended to recommend a later time of calving assistance than that recommended in the recent literature though they did also emphasize the importance of calving progress. The majority of practitioners conducted informal (at calving) calving training focusing on time of intervention, welfare-friendly intervention and delivery of a live healthy calf. However, the educational literature recommends a formal training approach as being more effective. These findings indicate that practitioners may benefit from continuing professional education on the scientific merits/demerits of calving prediction devices, current best practice on intervention timing during calving and formal methods of farmer training on calving management.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices associated with giardiasis among cattle handlers in Jere, Borno State, Northeastern Nigeria

This study was designed to assess the level of knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of cattle handlers (cattle owners, cattle attendants and veterinarians) concerning giardiasis in Jere Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno State, Northeastern Nigeria. Using a pre-validated questionnaire, 278 cattle handlers from six wards of Jere were interviewed, with a 84% (n = 252) response rate. The majority of the respondents were aged 27–38 years (62.3%), male (93.7%) and Muslim (96%). Regarding the control and prevention of giardiasis, 31.3%, 44.8% and 31.3% of the cattle handlers had good knowledge, attitudes and practices, respectively. The overall mean scores of 59.5%, 64.8% and 64.1% for knowledge, attitudes and practices were significantly (p &lt; 0.05) lower than the ≥ 75% cut-off mark set for a good KAP score on giardiasis. Furthermore, there was a moderate, positive and significant (p &lt; 0.05) correlation between the knowledge score and the attitudes and practices scores. The handlers’ knowledge and attitudes had significant associations (p &lt; 0.05) with their levels of education and years of experience, signifying that high levels of education and years of experience were associated with improved awareness of giardiasis among cattle handlers. The study concluded that there is a potential risk of cattle handlers being infected with Giardia lamblia based on their overall suboptimal levels of knowledge, attitudes and practices toward giardiasis observed in the study area. Raising awareness among cattle handlers about the public health implications of giardiasis in the study area was recommended.

Effect evaluation of rubella knowledge attitudes and practices (KAP) intervention on parents of 0 to 2 year old children in Chongqing, China.

To evaluate the effect of rubella elimination publicity and communication project intervention activities on rubella related knowledge attitudes and practices (KAP) on parents of 0 to 2 year old children in Chongqing, and to provide basis for the formulation of rubella elimination strategies and measures. We choose 7 townships (streets) of parents of 0 to 2 year old children who live for more than 6 months in Chongqing to investigate the status of rubella knowledge, attitude and practice. Parents' cognition and behavior related to rubella, congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) and rubella component vaccine (RCV) were analyzed and evaluated before and after intervention. 420 people were surveyed before and after the intervention. The awareness rate of rubella prevention knowledge of parents after intervention was significantly higher than that before intervention, with statistical significance (P < .05). After intervention, parents' support rate of "rubella antibody test before pregnancy" and "RCV vaccination for children" were 89.52% and 72.14%, respectively, which were higher than those of parents before intervention (84.05% and 27.38%, P < .05). The RCV timely vaccination rate of children after intervention was 92.78%, which was higher than that of children before intervention (83.90%, P < .05). Targeted publicity and communication methods should be adopted for urban and rural areas to create a good publicity atmosphere, popularize rubella and CRS related popular science knowledge, and improve the RCV timely vaccination rate of school-age children and high-risk population.

Knowledge, attitude, and practice towards thyroid nodules and cancer among patients: a cross-sectional study.

This study aimed to explore the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) towards thyroid nodules (TN) and thyroid cancer (TC) among patients. This cross-sectional study enrolled patients with TN or TC at the Second Affiliated Hospital of the University of South China between September 2022 and February 2023. A self-administered questionnaire was developed to collect demographic information of the participants, and their knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) towards TN and TC. A total of 510 valid questionnaires were collected. Among the participants, 102 (20.00%) were male, and 197 (38.63%) had the diagnosis of TC. The knowledge, attitude and practice scores were 5.76 ± 3.09 (possible range: 0-12), 31.07 ± 2.73 (possible range: 9-45), and 18.97 ± 2.92 (possible range: 5-25), respectively. Multivariate logistic regression showed that age of above 50 years old (OR = 0.27, 95%CI: 0.12-0.64, p = 0.003), junior college or bachelor's degree and above (OR = 4.97, 95%CI: 1.74-14.20, p = 0.003), monthly income of 5,000-10,000 CNY (OR = 2.02, 95%CI: 1.09-3.74, p = 0.025) and > 10,000 CNY (OR = 5.67, 95%CI: 2.49-12.94, p < 0.001) were independently associated with knowledge. The good knowledge (OR = 3.87, 95%CI: 1.89-7.95, p < 0.001), high school or technical secondary school (OR = 0.52, 95%CI: 0.30-0.88, p = 0.016), and monthly income of 5,000-10,000 CNY (OR = 2.02, 95%CI: 1.13-3.63, p = 0.018) were independently associated with practice. Patients demonstrated poor knowledge, moderate attitude, and proactive practice towards TN and TC.

Knowledge, attitude, and practice toward complementary alternative medicine in the UAE: A cross- sectional study

IntroductionComplementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) encompasses utilization of traditional approaches in treating illnesses. The literature on CAM in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) shows varying awarness and practice. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice towards CAM in the UAE. MethodsThe study utilized a cross-sectional design and collected data between January and March 2023 from adults in the UAE. Using convenience sampling, participants were invited to participate from public areas. A total of 964 individuals participated in the study by filling the survey electronically. Data were collecting using the CAM knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) questionnaire. This study received ethical approval from Research Ethics and Integrity Committee at the Higher Colleges of Technology. ResultsThe mean age of the participants was 31.32 years (+-10.66). The majority of the participants were Emirati (89.5 %), female (71.6 %), married (54.4 %) and held a bachelor's degree (40.4 %). Data on CAM knowledge showed that 66.7 % of the participants recognized CAM, mostly from family and friends (38 %). More than half (56.5 %) of the participants recognized the types of CAM, with Hijama as the most well known type. The majority of the participants (80.1 %) had a positive attitude toward CAM practice. Separated participants were 3.187 times less likely to exhibit positive attitude toward CAM than single participants (OR = -3.187., 95 %CI [.005, 0.345]) and Muslims were 3.517 times more likely to exhibit positive attitude toward CAM (OR = -3.517., 95 %CI [4.717, 240.673]). Moreover, 39.3 % of the participants tried CAM mostly to relieve pain (54.8 %). There was a significant correlation between age and knowledge about CAM (r = 0.147, p < 0.001) and between knowledge and attitude toward CAM (r = 0.149, p < 0.001). There was a significant correlation between attitude toward CAM and knowledge about Hijama (r = 0.136, p < 0.001), acupuncture (r = 0.192, p < 0.001), dietary supplements (r = 0.180, p < 0.001), and herbal medicine (r = 0.161, p < 0.001). ConclusionIn the UAE, there is considerable knowledge and acceptance of CAM. Recommendations are geared toward the involvement of healthcare professionals in CAM prescription and control. Community awareness about CAM is recommended to bridge the gap between safety, risks and benefits.