Knowledge, attitude, and practice of patients with osteomyelitis: a cross-sectional study using structural equation...

Area of Science:

• Medical Sociology
• Infectious Diseases
• Health Behavior

Background:

• Osteomyelitis, a severe bone infection, requires comprehensive patient understanding and adherence for effective management.
• Assessing knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) is crucial for understanding patient engagement in osteomyelitis care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the KAP levels in patients diagnosed with osteomyelitis.
• To identify factors associated with KAP in this patient population.
• To elucidate the interrelationships between knowledge, attitude, and practice in osteomyelitis patients.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 405 osteomyelitis patients in a tertiary hospital.
• Utilized a self-administered questionnaire to gather demographic, disease-related, and KAP data.
• Employed structural equation modeling (SEM) to analyze KAP interrelationships and logistic regression for associated factors.

Main Results:

• Patients exhibited low achievement rates in knowledge (32.1%), attitude (35.6%), and practice (30.9%).
• Older age, lower income, and lower education levels were significantly associated with poorer KAP.
• SEM confirmed that knowledge directly impacts attitude and practice, with attitude significantly mediating the knowledge-practice relationship.

Conclusions:

• Osteomyelitis patients generally possess insufficient knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding their condition.
• Interventions should prioritize enhancing patient attitude, particularly in socioeconomically disadvantaged and less educated groups.
• Further prospective research is recommended to validate findings and explore intervention effectiveness.