Developing knowledge, attitude and practice questionnaire in desmoid tumours (KAPID study): applying e-Delphi to rare...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Rare Diseases
• Medical Education

Background:

• Desmoid tumors (DT) are rare malignancies presenting diagnostic and treatment challenges.
• Limited awareness among medical professionals hinders optimal patient care.
• Developing effective educational tools is crucial for improving DT management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a comprehensive questionnaire assessing knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of medical professionals regarding desmoid tumors (DT).
• To establish a reliable instrument for evaluating the current understanding and management approaches for DT.
• To identify areas for targeted educational interventions to enhance DT expertise.

Main Methods:

• An e-Delphi method was employed with clinical experts experienced in DT care.
• An iterative process involving open-ended feedback and Likert scale assessments refined the questionnaire.
• Consensus was achieved through multiple rounds, with final agreement defined as >75% participant agreement.

Main Results:

• The final questionnaire consists of 34 items, covering knowledge (15 items), attitude (8 items), and practice (11 items) related to DT.
• Initial rounds showed varying levels of expert agreement, necessitating modifications to reach consensus.
• The study successfully established a validated KAP questionnaire for desmoid tumors.

Conclusions:

• The developed questionnaire provides a robust tool for assessing medical professionals' understanding of desmoid tumors.
• This instrument can guide the development of targeted educational strategies to improve DT awareness and clinical practice.
• Enhancing medical professional knowledge is essential for improving outcomes in patients with this rare malignancy.