Knowledge, attitudes, practice and related factors of oral cancer prevention among public health nurses in Taiwan

Bridging the Gap: Nurses' Integral Role in Oral Cancer Prevention and Management

This editorial explores the important role that nurses play in bridging the gap in the prevention and management of oral cancer. Despite advances in medical science, oral cancer remains a significant global public health challenge, with high mortality rates due to late diagnosis and inadequate treatment. Nurses, with their multifaceted contributions, are indispensable in addressing this challenge. The editorial emphasizes the key role of nurses in patient education and awareness, early detection and screening, comprehensive patient care, supportive services, and advocacy. Nurses are frontline educators, advocates, caregivers, and collaborators in the fight against oral cancer. Through their expertise, compassion, and dedication, nurses have a significant impact on patient outcomes, reducing mortality rates, and promoting a healthier future for those affected by oral cancer. Recognizing and supporting the crucial role of nurses in the management of oral cancer is essential for advancing prevention, detection, and treatment efforts.

Understanding the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Healthy Eating among Adolescents in Chongqing, China: An Empirical Study Utilizing Structural Equation Modeling

Healthy eating is crucial for optimal growth, development, and the prevention of chronic diseases in adolescents. Our study aimed to develop a comprehensive structural equation model (SEM) to analyze the relationships between knowledge, attitudes, practices (KAP), and healthy eating among adolescents in Chongqing. An online questionnaire was administered to middle school students in 39 districts and counties of Chongqing, China from 2 December to 15 December 2021 to collect sociodemographic and KAP information. SEM models were constructed to examine the relationships between educational environment and healthy eating knowledge, attitudes, and practices. The Monte Carlo test was employed to assess the significance of the mediating effect of relevant variables. The study included 139,832 adolescents aged 14.8 ± 0.7 years, with a 14% rate of overweight and obesity. Health and nutrition knowledge averaged a score of 3.60 ± 1.50 (correct rate: 60%). Participants had positive attitudes (average score: 13.61 ± 2.29) and engaged in healthy eating practices (average score: 12.06 ± 3.08). The results of the SEM revealed a significant influence of the educational environment on adolescents' knowledge (β = 0.235, p < 0.001) and attitude towards healthy eating (β = 0.143, p < 0.001). Knowledge exhibited positive effects on both attitude (β = 0.225, p < 0.001) and practice (β = 0.054, p < 0.001), while attitude exhibited positive effects on practice behavior (β = 0.565, p < 0.001). The indirect effect of knowledge on practices through attitude was more substantial than the direct effect (ratio 2.361). Our study highlights the mediating role of attitude between healthy eating knowledge and practices. A significant association exists between a favorable educational environment and improved knowledge and positive attitudes toward healthy eating among adolescents. In the future, nutrition and health education should prioritize exploring effective ways to translate knowledge into practices.

Research on Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Influenza Vaccination Among Healthcare Workers in Chongqing, China—Based on Structural Equation Model

Background

Influenza is associated with a large number of disease burdens, and it is generally recommended that all healthcare workers (HCWs) get an influenza vaccination. However, the vaccination rates among HCWs are still low. This study aimed to assess HCWs' knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) about the influenza vaccine, and by establishing a structural equation model (SEM) to explore the influencing factors of medical personnel's influenza vaccination in Chongqing, China.

Methods

From September to November 2019, we conducted a cross-sectional survey in four sentinel hospitals and four non-sentinel hospitals in Chongqing, China. We calculated knowledge, attitude, and behavior scores for each study participant and assessed the level of knowledge, attitude, and behavior of the medical staff. An SEM was used to evaluate the relationship between latent variables, and the path graph between knowledge, attitude, and behavior was established.

Results

A total of 1,412 valid questionnaires were collected in this survey, including four sentinel hospitals (N = 606, 42.92%) and four non-sentinel hospitals (N = 806, 57.08%). Women (N = 1,102, 78.05%) were more than men (N = 310, 21.95%), with an average age of 32.36 ± 7.78 years old and under 30 years old (N = 737, 52.20%), respectively. Nurses (741, 52.48%) were the main subjects, followed by physicians (457, 32.37%). The final SEM model was obtained after the model was modified and adjusted. A bootstrap analysis of path coefficients was carried out on the final model. Knowledge has a direct influence on behavior. The normalized path coefficient is 0.071 (95% CI: 0.002–0.161), and the value of P of the hypothesis test result of the path coefficient is 0.042. The direct influence of knowledge on attitude standardization was 0.175 (95% CI: 0.095–0.281). The direct influence of attitude on practice standardization was 0.818 (95% CI: 0.770–0.862). The indirect effect of knowledge on the standardization of practice through attitude was 0.144 (95% CI: 0.076–0.235).

Conclusions

According to the SEM, there is a direct positive correlation between KAP and the influenza vaccine. The indirect influence of knowledge on the standard of behavior through attitude is about two times as much as the direct influence on behavior, indicating that attitude plays a strong mediating role between knowledge and practice.

Relationship between oral health-related knowledge, attitudes, practice, self-rated oral health and oral health-related quality of life among Chinese college students: a structural equation modeling approach

Background

This study aimed to evaluate the associations among oral health-related knowledge, attitudes, practice (KAP), self-rated oral health and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among Chinese college students.

Methods

Of the 2000 participants, 1751 (87.55%) students answered an online questionnaire between October 2019 and January 2020. The questionnaire included demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitudes, and practice related to oral health, self-rated oral health, and OHRQoL. Structural equation modelling was applied to assess the associations among study variables.

Results

Among the total students, oral health-related knowledge and attitudes were satisfactory, while the oral health practice was not optimistic. The final model showed satisfactory fitness to the data. Oral health knowledge was associated with attitudes directly and positively. Attitudes toward oral health had a direct and positive effect on practice. Oral health knowledge had an indirect effect on practice through attitudes. Oral health practice was directly associated with self-rated oral health. Oral health knowledge, practice, and self-rated oral health all affected OHRQoL directly and positively, while attitudes had a direct negative impact on OHRQoL.

Conclusions

OHRQoL was influenced by oral health knowledge, attitudes, practice, and self-rated oral health. Our findings support the KAP theory. Limitations of the KAP model were also found.