Mean Attitude Score Research Articles

KAP ANALYSIS OF NURSES REGARDING PREVENTION OF OSTEOPOROSIS AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH NUTRITIONAL BEHAVIORS

Osteoporosis is a significant public health concern, affecting millions globally. Nurses play a vital role in educating and guiding patients about preventive measures. However, their knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding osteoporosis prevention, along with their own nutritional behaviours, are crucial factors that can influence patient care and health outcomes. Objective: To determine the knowledge, attitudes, and practice of nurses regarding osteoporosis prevention and its association with nutritional behaviours. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Nursing Department of Nishtar Hospital, Multan from September 2023 to August 2024. A total of 100 nurses with at least a bachelor’s degree and a minimum of one year of work experience were included in the study. The data was collected through a questionnaire divided into five sections to collect demographic information, levels of knowledge, attitudes and practices, and nutritional habits of nurses. Results: The mean knowledge score was 19.24 ± 4.10 with 55% of nurses possessing good knowledge. The mean attitude score was 71.68 ± 7.05 with 80% of nurses having positive attitudes. The mean attitude score was 47.32 ± 7.44 with 58% of nurses having good practices. 58% of nurses had good nutritional behaviours with a mean score of 111.08 ± 14.73. A strong direct association was observed between nutritional behaviors and KAP scores (p=0.001). Conclusion: Good knowledge, attitudes, practices, and nutritional behaviours were noted in nurses regarding osteoporosis prevention. The KAP scores had a direct and strong association with nutritional behaviors promoting lifestyle changes.

One-year impact of behavioural interventions on schistosomiasis-related knowledge, attitude and practices of primary schoolchildren in Pemba, Tanzania

BackgroundElimination of schistosomiasis as a public health problem and interruption of transmission in selected areas are goals set by the World Health Organization for 2030. Behaviour change communication (BCC), coupled with other interventions, is considered an essential measure to reduce the transmission of Schistosoma infection. Focusing on elimination, we assessed the 1-year impact of BCC interventions on schistosomiasis-related knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) of schoolchildren in hotspot schools versus low-prevalence schools that did not receive the interventions.MethodsSchool-based cross-sectional surveys were implemented in 16 schools on Pemba Island, Tanzania, in 2020 and 2022, respectively. The schistosomiasis-related KAP were assessed in children attending grades 3–5, using pre-tested questionnaires. Between the surveys, in 2021, children from hotspot schools were exposed to BCC interventions. The difference in mean knowledge and attitude scores, respectively, between schoolchildren from hotspot and low-prevalence schools during the survey in 2022 was determined with a linear mixed-effect model.ResultsIn the five hotspot schools that received BCC interventions, 315 children participated in the survey in 2020 and 349 in 2022. There was a 21.0% increase in children with moderate knowledge and a 13.8% decrease in no knowledge; a 8.3% increase in good attitude and a 19.2% decrease in poor attitude; 3.4% and 3.2% fewer children reported to use waterbodies for washing clothes or body, respectively. In the 11 low-prevalence schools without BCC interventions, 778 children participated in 2020 and 732 in 2022. The percentage of children with poor knowledge (56.4% and 63.1%) and poor attitude (55.3% and 53.1%) remained relatively stable from 2020 to 2022, but 4.9% and 3.0% less children reported to use waterbodies for washing clothes or their body, respectively. In 2022, the difference in mean knowledge scores was 0.8 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.5−1.1] and the difference in mean attitude scores was 0.6 (95% CI: 0.4−0.7) between children in hotspot compared with low-prevalence schools.ConclusionsAfter one year of implementation, the BCC interventions markedly improved the KAP of exposed children. Complemented by improved access to clean water and sanitation, BCC holds promise to contribute successfully to the achievement of schistosomiasis control and elimination targets.Trial registration ISRCTN, ISRCTN91431493. Registered 11 February. 2020, https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN91431493.Graphical

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward bioterrorism preparedness among nurses: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundBioterrorism is an important topic in the field of biosecurity. Nurses, the largest group of healthcare workers, play a critical role in addressing the threat of bioterrorism. This study aimed to examine the present level of bioterrorism knowledge, attitudes, and practices among nurses. It also explored the relationships among bioterrorism knowledge, attitudes, and practices, as well as demographic variables that influence the scores of each dimension.MethodsA descriptive correlational research design was conducted using a convenience sample of 429 nurses in five tertiary general hospitals in Tianjin. Registered nurses with six months or more of work experience, currently still working in hospitals, and volunteering to participate in the study are included; otherwise, they are excluded. A structured questionnaire with four components was used: sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge of bioterrorism, attitudes toward bioterrorism, and practices related to bioterrorism. The acquired data were analyzed using the Mann‒Whitney test, Kruskal‒Wallis test, Spearman correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression. This study followed the STROBE guidelines.ResultsThe study ultimately included 429 valid surveys. The mean score for bioterrorism knowledge was satisfactory (33.06 ± 4.87), the mean score for bioterrorism attitudes was good (23.83 ± 5.23), and the mean score for bioterrorism practices was poor (10.94 ± 6.51). There was a significant negative correlation between bioterrorism knowledge and attitudes (r=-0.38, p < 0.01), knowledge and practices (r=-0.42, p < 0.01). Bioterrorism practices were significantly positively correlated with attitudes (r = 0.21, p < 0.01). Educational level (β = 0.17, p < 0.001), years of experience (β = 0.26, p < 0.001), and previous bioterrorism education (β = 0.19, p < 0.001) influenced the bioterrorism knowledge score. Gender (β=-0.21, p < 0.001), educational level (β = 0.10, p < 0.05), and previous bioterrorism education (β = 0.22, p < 0.001) affected the bioterrorism attitude score. Years of experience (β=-0.28, p < 0.001) and previous bioterrorism education (β = 0.13, p < 0.01) had an impact on the practice score.ConclusionsKnowledge of bioterrorism was significantly negatively correlated with attitudes and practices, which could be attributed to the specificity of bioterrorism itself. To improve nurses’ bioterrorism preparedness, continuing medical education efforts must be strengthened, as well as regular delivery of bioterrorism-specific training and drills.

Israeli dentists’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding smoking cessation care

BackgroundThe 5A’s model for brief smoking cessation care (SCC) is recommended for dentists to reduce the negative impacts of smoking on oral health. This study investigates Israeli dentists' adherence to the 5A’s guidelines and explores factors influencing their knowledge, attitudes, and practices.MethodsAn online cross-sectional survey was conducted among Israeli dentists during June–August 2020. The questionnaire included sociodemographic, smoking, and professional characteristics; knowledge (10 true/false statements); attitudes regarding SCC [based on the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF)] using 13 statements (1–5 Likert scale), for a composite mean attitude score; and 5A’s performance (1–5 Likert scale, never to always). Two primary outcomes were analysed: (1) performing all of the 5A’s ‘often or always’; and (2) performing ‘always’ the first two steps (“Ask” and “Advise”). Multivariable logistic regression explored the association between the various characteristics and the primary outcomes.ResultsOverall, n = 410 responded. Mean knowledge score was 2.58 (SD = 1.51). Mean attitude score was 2.65 (SD = 0.60). Performance of all 5A’s was low with 14.1% (n = 57) reporting completing all 5A’s ‘often or always’, while 34.1% (n = 139) reported ‘always’ performing ‘Ask’ and ‘Advise’. Specialists had better odds of ‘often or always’ performing the 5A’s (adjusted OR = 2.01, p = .022) and ‘always’ performing ‘Ask and Advise’ (adjusted OR = 1.71, p = .022).ConclusionsThis study highlights the insufficient performance of SCC among Israeli dentists, revealing gaps in knowledge and attitudes related to SCC. Various measures, such as training, automatic referral systems, and integrating SCC as quality measures, may improve SCC provision among Israeli dentists.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of dietary management among patients with rheumatoid arthritis in China.

This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding dietary management among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A cross-sectional survey was conducted at JiuJiang NO.1 People's Hospital from November 2023 to May 2024. Data were gathered using structured questionnaires that solicited demographic information and measured KAP scores related to dietary management in RA patients. The survey yielded 504 valid questionnaires. Of the respondents, 306 (60.71%) had a Body Mass Index (BMI) within the optimal range of 18.5-23.9 kg/m2. The mean scores for knowledge, attitude, and practice were 10.13 ± 3.58 (possible range: 0-22), 31.38 ± 2.38 (possible range: 9-45), and 4.46 ± 2.30 (possible range: 0-12), respectively. Correlation analysis revealed significant relationships between knowledge and practice (r = 0.294, p < 0.001) as well as between attitude and practice (r = 0.178, p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression showed that knowledge score (OR = 1.165, 95% CI: [1.078, 1.259], p < 0.001) was independently associated with proactive practice. The structural equation model (SEM) results showed that knowledge had direct effects on attitude (β = 0.291, p < 0.001) and practice (β = 0.188, p < 0.001). Meanwhile, attitude had a direct impact on practice (β = 0.081, p = 0.045). This study indicates that patients with RA generally demonstrate inadequate knowledge but hold positive attitudes toward dietary management, despite relatively inactive practices in implementing such dietary changes. Healthcare providers should prioritize educational interventions that not only enhance patient understanding but also actively support the implementation of dietary management strategies in clinical settings.

Effect of Health Education on Knowledge and Perceptions Regarding Cervical Cancer Screening and Prevention among Female Students of a Medical College in Rawalpindi, Pakistan: Pre and Post Analysis

Objective: To evaluate and compare the knowledge and attitude of future female health care providers regarding pap smear screening for cervical cancer at a medical and dental institution in Pakistan. The quality of knowledge of the students was analysed to measure the efficacy of awareness intervention sessions of the students. This was aimed to highlight their role in public awareness and identify the deficit thereof in their training towards practicing preventive community medicine. Study Design: This was a pre and post analysis comparative study. Place and Duration of Study: Conducted at Army Medical College Rawalpindi Pakistan, over an 8-months period from Nov 2019 to Jun 2020. Methodology: A total of 754 responses, pre intervention -401- and one-month later post intervention-353 were collected through a validated questionnaire by convenience sampling. Changes in the knowledge and attitude of students using an independent sample t test were determined one month after 20-minute educational intervention detailing cervical cancer and its screening. Association between course and year of study on the knowledge and attitude scores was determined bycomparing means using ANOVA tables. Results: Comparison of pre and post intervention scores revealed a statistically significant difference in knowledge (p&lt; 0.001)and attitude (p=0.002) with a change in mean knowledge scores from 46.31±15.93 to 74.03±15.71 and mean attitude scores from 45.84±14.37 to 48.86±12.54 after the intervention. MBBS students showed a statistically significant improvement in attitude (p&lt;0.001) than their BDS counterparts (p=0.535). Conclusion: Pre-intervention knowledge and attitude was inadequate. The intervention was successful with a significant increase in scores. Emphasis should be on implementing national HPV vaccination and cervical screening awareness campaigns.

Evaluation of Nurses' attitudes, behaviors, and barriers toward pressure ulcer prevention in neonatal and pediatric intensive care units.

Pressure ulcers are a significant concern in pediatric intensive care units, with prevalence rates ranging from 0.8% to 27%. They pose serious physical and psychological challenges, particularly in neonatal and pediatric intensive care units (NICU and PICU). This study explores nursing strategies, attitudes, and barriers toward pressure ulcer prevention in NICU and PICU settings. Using a descriptive study design, data were collected from 80 nurses working in NICU and PICU through validated questionnaires, including a demographic profile and a pressure ulcer survey. Descriptive statistics were employed to calculate mean scores and percentages, while inferential statistics assessed associations between variables. The study revealed specific nursing strategies, along with significant barriers and attitudes toward pressure ulcer prevention in NICU and PICU. The total attitude mean score was 3.57, with the highest positive response (mean = 4.29) for "most pressure sores can be avoided", and the highest negative response (mean = 3.86) for "pressure sore prevention is a low priority for me". Among participants, 72.5% conducted risk assessments on all patients, 60% had written prevention care plans, and 76.3% implemented preventive strategies. Barriers such as staff shortages and time constraints were reported by 76.2% of nurses. Multivariate analysis indicated that nurses with more than 10 years of qualification (OR = 3.67) and permanent staff with over 10 years of employment (OR = 4.31) were significantly more likely to engage in preventive practices. The use of a pressure ulcer grading tool (OR = 2.49, P < 0.05) and participation in formal training (OR = 3.14, P < 0.05) were also positively associated with preventive practices. These findings underscore the importance of structured assessment tools, ongoing education, and the need to foster positive attitudes among nurses to effectively reduce pressure ulcer prevalence and enhance patient outcomes in NICU and PICU settings.

Exercise and physical activity for people with chronic kidney disease: A national survey of nephrologist practice patterns in Saudi Arabia.

A variety of health benefits are associated with physical activity (PA) in individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The aim of this study was to examine nephrologist practice patterns concerning exercise and PA in CKD patients. This is an online cross-sectional survey study that was conducted between June 2023 and May 2024 in Saudi Arabia. Nephrology fellow, specialists, and consultants in Saudi Arabia formed the study population. A total of 96 physicians participated in this study. Only 9.4% of renal units have exercise programs available to patients. These programs are available mainly for advanced CKD (pre-dialysis) and in-center hemodialysis patients. The major barriers for initiating or expanding exercise programs at their centers are a lack of motivation/interest from front-line staff (55.2%), lack of interest from management (48.3%), and no funding (47.1). Around 56.2% of respondents ask patients about their level of PA. Additionally, 64.6% give patients specific advice on how to increase their level of PA. For the types of exercise most beneficial for people with CKD, 90.6% recommend walking. Around 34.4% of respondents believe that physiotherapists should take ownership in providing exercise counseling and resources to people with CKD. The majority agreed or strongly agreed to recommend exercise in patients with CKD (76.0%). The mean attitude score for the study participants was 32.1 (standard deviation: 3.9) out of 40 (equal to 80.3%); which demonstrates positive attitude towards recommending exercise for CKD patients. Binary logistic regression analysis identified that there is no statistically significant difference between physicians in term of their attitude towards recommending exercise for CKD patients (P > .05). This study highlights a critical gap in the availability of exercise programs for CKD patients. Key barriers include lack of interest by staff and management and funding issues. In spite of these barriers, a majority of physicians acknowledge the role of exercise in CKD patients and advice regarding PA on a frequent basis. It suggests recommendations in order to expand the programs, including increasing staff motivation, securing management support, and getting funding for exercise programs and identifying the role of physiotherapists in exercise counseling for CKD patients.

Household Pharmaceutical Disposal Practices, Community Understanding, and Readiness for Medicines Take-Back in Asmara, Eritrea: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.

Unused and/or expired pharmaceuticals stored in households are potential health and environment hazards that require safe disposal. In Eritrea, there has not been a proper household medicines disposal system and pharmaceutical wastes had been disposed of irrationally. The study was therefore conducted to assess community's understanding and disposal practices of unused/expired medications and willingness to participate in a household medicines take-back system. A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to February 2023 in randomly selected households of Asmara. The study participants were selected using a multi-stage-cluster sampling. Data, collected through face-to-face interview using a structured questionnaire, were double entered using CSPro version 7.3 software package and analyzed using SPSS version 26. A total of 327 participants were enrolled in the study with a predominance of female respondents (84%). The most commonly used disposal practices were throwing with household garbage (65.6%), followed by dumping under soil (38.7%) and flushing down the toilet/sink (15.2%). Around three-quarters (70.5%) of the households had unused/expired medicines stored at home during the data collection period with intention to use being the most common reason for storage (83.9%). Analgesics and anti-infectives were the most commonly stored classes of medicines, and more than half of the anti-infectives were stored for future use. The mean knowledge score of participants was 7.31/11 (95% CI: 7.09-7.52). Moreover, participants had a satisfactory willingness to participate in a household medicines take-back system, with a mean attitude score of 16.89/20 (95% CI: 16.45-17.29). Lack of awareness, negligence, time/health constraints, fear of accountability/stigma, accessibility and reluctance were reported as possible challenges in establishing a household medicines take-back system. Unnecessary storage and improper disposal of household unused/expired medicines along with inadequate knowledge on disposal mechanisms were common in households of Asmara. Hence, public education on proper disposal as well as coordinated efforts for the establishment of safe disposal mechanisms are recommended.

An evaluation of Thais’ attitude toward Telepharmacy in community pharmacies: A cross-sectional survey study

To determine the Thais’ attitudes toward telepharmacy in community pharmacies service and explore the factor effected their attitudes. This cross-sectional survey study conducted in Thailand. The population was Thai citizens over the age of 18 years. Data was gathering via online questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were examined. Subgroup analysis was evaluated by t-test or one way ANOVA as appropriate. The factors affecting Thais’ attitudes regarding telepharmacy were tested with multiple regression analysis. Total of 391 respondents were analyzed. Overall mean score of attitudes on telepharmacy was 4.15  0.45. The highest rating was given to telepharmacy procedures (4.49  0.49). Females had higher opinion mean scores than males (4.18  0.44 vs. 4.08  0.48; p = 0.017) and healthcare people performed poorly opinions mean scores than the general population (4.09  0.44 vs. 4.19  0.47, p = 0.026). The factors that influenced the opinion score were gender (p = 0.017), income (p = 0.036), and working or studying in the medical field (p = 0.011). Telepharmacy is a crucial service offered by community pharmacies. It facilitated clients' access to medications and pharmacists. Gender, income, and working or studies in the medical area influenced the Thais' opinion.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Rural Households in Bojnourd, Iran Regarding the Fleas

Background and Objectives: Fleas are obligate blood-sucking ectoparasites of humans and animals, and their importance in general human health is mostly related to their ability to transmit infectious pathogens. This study aims to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of rural households in Bojnourd, North Khorasan Province of Iran, regarding the fleas. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted from May to November 2020. The study population consisted of rural household members from 11 villages in Bojnourd City. The data were collected using a researcher-made KAP questionnaire with acceptable validity and reliability. Statistical analysis was performed in SPSS software, version 20 using t-test and ANOVA. The significance level was set at 0.05. Results: Of 408 participants, 209 (51.23%) were female and 199 (48.77%) were male. Most of them were in the age group of 21-30 years (37.01%), and less in the age group above 41 years (11.27%)., and were employed (n=109, 26.71%). A significant difference was observed in KAP score based on gender, age, educational level, and occupation (P&lt;0.05). The mean scores of knowledge, attitude and practice were 75.38%, 53.6% and 49.3%, respectively. Conclusion: The rural households in Bojnourd has a high knowledge of fleas, but their attitude and practice are low. Therefore, appropriate training programs are necessary to improve their attitude and practice

Assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practice of pharmacovigilance amongst undergraduate students at a tertiary care teaching hospital: a questionnaire-based study

Background: Pharmacovigilance ensures patient safety and rational medication use. Spontaneous reporting by healthcare professionals is crucial, but underreporting is a major limitation. Education and training are vital to improve Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) reporting. Inculcating pharmacovigilance into undergraduate programs empowers medical students to report ADRs. Methods: This prospective questionnaire-based study focused on assessing knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) regarding pharmacovigilance. A total of 223 medical undergraduate students of which 156 were students in 2nd year and 67 in 3rd final years who gave their consent were included in this study. Participants completed a pre-questionnaire before undergoing a training session on pharmacovigilance related to KAP. Following the training session, a post-questionnaire was given. Pre- and post-test questionnaires were compared and analysed using an appropriate statistical test. Results: The study showed that knowledge and attitude scores among second and third-year medical students improved after the training program. Following training, the mean knowledge score for second-year students significantly increased from 5.56 to 8.6, while their mean attitude score increased from 5.9 to 7.24. Similarly, for third-final-year students, the mean knowledge score improved from 6.62 to 9.01, and the mean attitude score increased from 6.69 to 7.52. The results clearly showed that the training program had a positive impact on the knowledge and attitude of both student groups. The mean practice scores for second-year and third-final-year students were 0.76 and 1.34, respectively. Conclusions: The study showed significant improvement in knowledge and attitude after the educational intervention, indicating a positive impact of the training program.

Emergency nurses' attitude and related factors toward geriatric: A cross-sectional study

Aging and the consequent disabilities are major concerns in contemporary society. The last century has witnessed a significant increase in the elderly population, particularly in developing countries, thereby heightening the need to address the issues this demographic faces. Understanding nurses' attitudes towards geriatric and the factors influencing these attitudes is crucial for predicting and, if necessary, modifying the behavior of emergency department nurses. This study aims to determine the emergency nurses' attitudes and related factors toward geriatric. This cross-sectional analytical study targeted nurses working in the emergency departments of medical training centers in Rasht. A total of 190 nurses were selected using the census sampling method. Data collection involved a two-part questionnaire: one section capturing demographic characteristics and the other utilizing Kogan’s Attitudes Toward Old People scale. The study revealed that the average age of the nurses was 34.41 (standard deviation [SD]=6.37) years. Among the 190 nurses, 171 (90.0%) were women, 105 (70.0%) were married, and 178 (93.7%) held bachelor's degrees. The average length of professional experience among participants was 8.87 (SD=5.24) years, with 7.24 (SD=4.31) years spent in emergency departments. The mean attitude score towards geriatric was 136.24 (SD=10.47), indicating a generally unfavorable attitude. Supervisors exhibited a significantly more positive attitude toward geriatric than regular nurses (P=0.035). No statistically significant relationship was found between the nurses' attitudes and their personal or occupational variables (P&lt;0.05). The findings indicate that nurses generally hold unfavorable attitudes toward geriatric. Given the critical importance of providing high-quality care to this population, developing strategies to improve nurses’ attitudes towards geriatrics is imperative.

A Quantitative Cross-Sectional Study on the Behavioral Intentions of Polish Medical and Healthcare Students Regarding Interprofessional Collaboration in Their Future Clinical Practice

Background/Objectives: Since the importance of robust theory-driven research is emphasized in medical education and little data are available on the intentions of medical and healthcare students regarding interprofessional collaboration, this study aimed to analyze the behavioral intentions of Polish medical and healthcare students to undertake interprofessional collaboration in their future work. This study follows the assumptions of the theory of planned behavior, including analysis of the students’ attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control in this regard. Methods: Data were collected from March to July 2023 on the population of students at Poznan University of Medical Sciences (Poland) using a questionnaire developed using dedicated manuals on the theory. Results: The students demonstrated generally positive behavioral intentions and attitudes, with a mean total attitude score of 103.13 ± 33.31 in a possible range of −231 to 231. Their sense of social pressure to engage in interprofessional collaboration was weak to moderate positive, as indicated by their total subjective norm score equal on average to 57.01 ± 42.98 in a possible range of −189 to 189, or mixed when evaluated directly. Furthermore, even though they presented a neutral or moderately positive direct assessment of their perceived behavioral control, its indirect measure was weak to moderately negative, with a mean total perceived behavioral control of −80.78 ± 59.21 in a possible range of −231 to 231. Conclusions: The findings suggest that students’ perceptions of mixed social pressure and the presence of barriers or obstacles to collaboration may negatively impact their perceived ease and willingness to collaborate, even despite their initially positive attitudes towards it.

Health Workers' Attitudes Toward Adverse Gender Norms and Implications for Young People's Sexual and Reproductive Health in Nigeria.

Adverse gender norms within the health care system are detrimental to the sexual and reproductive health of young people. This study assessed the attitudes of health workers toward adverse gender norms related to intimate partner relationships across three domains: intimate partner violence (IPV); sexuality; and reproductive health behavior. A cross-sectional quantitative survey was conducted among 255 health workers in youth-friendly primary health centers in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Attitudes to gender norm statements were assessed on a 3-point scale of agree (3 points), partially agree (2 points), and disagree (1 point). Mean attitude scores were estimated for each statement and the predictors of attitudes were determined through multiple linear regression analysis with p-value set at .05. Majority of the health workers held gender biases regarding male control over sexual decision-making, men's higher desire and value for sex, and the woman's responsibility to prevent pregnancy. Over 40% of the respondents associated women carrying condoms with promiscuity, and 39.6% believed that only men have the "social" rights to purchase condoms. Urban residence predicted health workers' attitudes to adverse gender norms related to sexuality (β = -.179, p = .003). Findings from this study provide a basis for in-service training programs that are designed to change the attitudes of health workers to adverse gender norms and transform their practices.

Knowledge, attitude, and practice toward sleep hygiene and cardiovascular health: a cross-sectional survey among healthcare workers.

Healthcare workers grapple with distinct challenges, inherent to their profession, making them susceptible to irregular sleep patterns and insufficient sleep, which may further impact their cardiovascular health. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of healthcare workers concerning sleep hygiene and cardiovascular health. A cross-sectional survey was conducted at Yancheng TCM Hospital Affiliated with Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine between July, 2023 and September, 2023. Demographic characteristics, KAP scores, sleep health awareness and habits, and sleep quality were assessed through the questionnaires. A total of 423 valid questionnaires were included in the study. Among these, 215 (50.83%) were aged 35 or below, and 128 (30.26%) reported suffering from chronic insomnia. The mean knowledge, attitude, and practice scores were 43.23 ± 5.67 (possible range: 10-50), 24.53 ± 4.59 (possible range: 9-45), and 20.22 ± 4.46 (possible range: 6-30), respectively. Multivariate analyses indicated that attitude score (OR = 0.890, 95% CI: [0.807-0.981], p = 0.019), sleep health awareness & habits score (OR = 1.847, 95% CI: [1.284-2.656], p = 0.001), experienced chest tightness or heart palpitations (OR = 6.084, 95% CI: [2.172-17.042], p = 0.001), and the presence of chronic insomnia (OR = 5.017, 95% CI: [2.428-10.368], p < 0.001) were independently associated with sleep quality. Healthcare workers had adequate knowledge, negative attitude and moderate practice toward sleep hygiene and cardiovascular health. The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to address the observed gaps in attitudes and practices, aiming to enhance overall awareness and promote healthier sleep habits among healthcare professionals.

Evaluation of the Effects of Educational Interventions on the Modification of High-Risk Job Behaviors in Patients with Brucellosis in Rural Areas of Arak County based on the Family-Centered Empowerment Model (FCEM)

Background and Objectives: Brucellosis is a common disease worldwide. Family-centered empowerment model is a model for empowering patients to modify high-risk behaviors. Given the wide range of health and economic complications caused by the prevalence of brucellosis in society, we sought to evaluate the effect of this model in modifying the high-risk behaviors of patients with brucellosis. Methods: The present study was a quasi-experimental interventional study that examined 88 patients with Brucellosis in Arak County in 2021. Data were collected using a standardized questionnaire based on the family-centered empowerment model in six constructs, namely knowledge, attitude, perceived severity, self-esteem, self-efficacy, and behavior at two stages before and two months after the educational intervention. Independent t-test, paired t-test, and chi-square test at a significance level of 0.05 were used to analyze the data. Results: The mean of patients' age was 42.19±19.79. The results of the paired t-test indicated that the mean scores of knowledge (P&lt;0.001), attitude (P&lt;0.001), perceived severity (P&lt;0.001), self-esteem (P&lt;0.001), self-efficacy (P&lt;0.001), and behavior (P&lt;0.001) significantly increased in the intervention group after education. but changes in mean scores of knowledge (P=0.71), attitude (P= 0.53), perceived severity (P=0.26), self-esteem (P=0.18), self-efficacy (P=0.21), and behavior (P=0.41) were not significant in the control group. Conclusion: The results indicated that educational intervention based on the family-centered empowerment model could be effective in increasing knowledge, thereby improving Brucellosis prevention behaviors.

Filipino Rehabilitation Practitioners’ COVID-19 knowledge, practice and attitude: A cross-sectional study

Background: The rehabilitation team, consisting of physiatrists, physical and occupational therapists, and speech pathologists, faces heightened risk of COVID-19 exposure because of treatment practices in rehabilitation settings.Aim: The study aimed to assess the knowledge, practices and attitudes of rehabilitation professionals in treating COVID-19 patients and to determine potential associations with respondents’ demographic factors (e.g., age, gender, type of profession).Setting: The study was conducted in the Philippines.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from June 2021 to July 2021. Researchers employed snowballing and purposive homogenous convenient sampling methods. Participants completed a 31-item online questionnaire via Google Forms.Results: A total of 410 rehabilitation professionals participated in the study. The total mean scores for knowledge, practices and attitudes are 41.14 ± 3.16, 104.54 ± 33.65 and 37.13 ± 3.55, respectively which were considered adequate. However, only 9.8% (n = 40) professional was actively treating COVID-19 patients with analysis of variance indicated that age, type of profession and gender did not significantly impact COVID-19 knowledge. However, age (p = 0.005) and type of profession (p = 0.004) were found to influence COVID-19 practices, with physiatrists exhibiting higher adherence. There was a strong positive correlation between age and positive COVID-19 attitudes (p 0.000).Conclusion: Filipino rehabilitation professionals have positive attitude, adequate knowledge and skills about COVID-19.Contribution: The study provides information to modify training courses and curricula to further improve the knowledge and practices related to COVID-19.

Assessing the knowledge, attitude and perception of Extended Reality (XR) technology in Pakistan's Healthcare community in an era of Artificial Intelligence.

The Extended Reality (XR) technology was established by combining elements of Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality, offering users the advantage of working in a virtual environment. The study aimed to evaluate medical professionals' and students' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding using XR technology in Pakistan's healthcare system and identify its benefits, drawbacks, and implications for the system's future. A cross-sectional study was executed by circulating a self-structured online questionnaire among the Medical Community across Major Cities of Pakistan using various social media platforms as available sampling. The sample size was calculated to be 385 using RAOSOFT. Cronbach's alpha was calculated as 0.74. The Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) conducted on the dataset was validated using the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) measure and Bartlett's Test of Sphericity. The KMO value of 0.752 indicates adequate sampling, and Bartlett's Test was significant (χ2 (435) = 2809.772, p < 0.001), confirming the suitability of the data for factor analysis. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS-25, and data description was done as frequency and percentage. Pearson correlation and regression analysis kept p-value < 0.05% significant. Approximately 54.8% of 406 participants conveyed their familiarity with XR technologies. The majority of participants (83.8%) believed that using XR technology effectively enhanced medical education and patient care in Pakistan. Regarding clinical outcomes, 70.8% believed XR improved the efficiency of procedures and 52.8% agreed XR would lead to more device-dependent systems and eradicating human error (32.4%). Major barriers to XR integration included ethical and privacy issues (63.9%), lack of technological advancements in Pakistan (70%), and lack of ample knowledge and training of XR among health care professionals (45.8%). Hypothesis testing revealed a low positive but significant correlation between the use of AI-based healthcare systems and the increasing speed and accuracy of procedures (r = 0.342, p < 0.001), supporting Hypothesis 1. Similarly, a very low positive yet significant correlation was observed between the augmentation of diagnostic and surgical procedures and addressing data security and ethical issues for implementing XR (r = 0.298, p < 0.001), supporting Hypothesis 2. Lastly, a correlation between the mean Attitude (MA) score and the mean Perception (MP) score was found to be moderately positive and significant (r = 0.356, p < 0.001). Hence, the hypothesis 3 was supported. XR technology has the potential to enhance medical education and patient care in Pakistan, but its adoption faces significant challenges, including ethical concerns, technological gaps, and inadequate training. The study's findings highlight the need to address these issues to maximize the benefits of XR in healthcare.

Attitudes, knowledge, and related factors on paediatric dental radiography among parents of children aged less than 13 years attended a tertiary care public dental hospital.

Dental radiography is an essential diagnostic tool in paediatric dentistry. To explore attitudes, knowledge, and related factors of paediatric dental radiography among parents who attended the radiology department of a premier public dental hospital. The study was conducted at the National Dental Hospital (Teaching) Sri Lanka among 124 parents whose children (<13-years) underwent dental radiographic examination. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, radiographic investigations, and parental knowledge and attitudes on paediatric dental radiography were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data were entered and analyzed using the SPSS-21 statistical software package. The mean score (95% CI) of parental attitudes and knowledge on paediatric dental radiography were 17.55 (17.64-18.45) on a scale from 7 to 35 and 3.73 (3.34-4.13) on a scale from -7 to +7, respectively. Significant differences in parental knowledge were evident by child's age (p = 0.046), ethnicity (p = 0.035), and parental attitudes (p = 0.024). Binary logistic regression analysis revealed a significant independent association between parental attitudes with parental knowledge: OR (95% CI) = 2.413 (1.098-5.302) (p = 0.028). Parents demonstrated less favorable attitudes but sufficient knowledge on many aspects of paediatric dental radiography. Therefore, interventions are needed to improve parental attitudes on paediatric dental radiography especially by providing child-friendly services.