Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding venous thromboembolism prevention in patients with lung cancer

Patients with lung cancer are at high risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), yet their awareness and preventive behaviors remain insufficiently characterized. This study assessed knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding VTE prevention among patients with lung cancer and explored factors associated with these dimensions.

This cross-sectional study included 244 patients with lung cancer recruited at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital between January and May 2026. Participants completed a KAP questionnaire regarding VTE prevention. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with KAP outcomes, and Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine the associations among knowledge, attitudes, and practices.

The mean knowledge, attitude, and practice scores were 8.98 ± 3.52, 31.18 ± 3.37, and 19.19 ± 4.49, respectively. Rural or suburban residence (adjusted OR = 0.447, 95% CI 0.201-0.992) and no previous VTE education (adjusted OR = 0.271, 95% CI 0.147-0.501) were associated with lower odds of meeting the operational knowledge threshold. Higher knowledge scores were associated with more favorable attitudes and higher self-reported preventive practice scores, while higher attitude scores were associated with higher self-reported preventive practice scores.

Patients with lung cancer showed persistent gaps in VTE-related knowledge, generally favorable responses to several attitude items, and heterogeneous self-reported preventive behaviors. The findings highlight potential targets for patient education, particularly among rural or suburban residents and those without previous VTE education.