Knowledge, attitude, and practice of healthcare providers on chronic refractory cough: A cross-sectional study

Previous studies from outside China showed that the knowledge, attitudes, and practice (KAP) of chronic refractory cough (CRC) was moderate among physicians. This study examined the KAP toward CRC in Chinese healthcare providers.

This single-center cross-sectional study was conducted at The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Yancheng Third People's Hospital, from July 2022 to January 2023 and enrolled healthcare providers. The demographic characteristics and KAP scores were collected using a questionnaire (Cronbach's α = 0.934) developed based on CRC guidelines.

The study included 539 healthcare providers. The mean knowledge score was 8.27 ± 2.37 (maximum of 14, 59.07%), indicating poor knowledge. The highest rates of inaccuracies pertained to knowledge about the definition of chronic cough, empirical treatment methods, and potential risks of different treatments, suggesting a need for unified training in all aspects of CRC for medical staff. The mean attitude score was 49.74 ± 63.63 (maximum of 60, 82.90%), indicating favorable attitudes. Most healthcare providers believed that CRC affects normal work and life and that it would be necessary to provide more help to patients from the perspectives of drug treatment and psychological counseling. The mean practice score was 23.20 ± 6.28 (maximum of 35, 66.29%), indicating poor practice.

This study suggests that healthcare providers in Yancheng have poor knowledge, favorable attitudes, and poor practice of CRC. This study provides points that should be targeted in future training and continuing education activities.