Assessing hypertension and diabetes knowledge, attitudes and practices among residents in Akatsi South District, Ghana using the KAP questionnaire

A qualitative study on inner experience of self-management behavior among elderly patients with type 2 diabetes in rural areas

BACKGROUND

As a chronic metabolic disease, diabetes poses a serious threat to human health and has become a major public health problem in China and worldwide. In 2020, 30% of Chinese people (aged ≥ 60 years) reported having diabetes mellitus. Moreover, individuals with diabetes living in rural areas face a significantly higher mortality risk compared to those in urban areas. In this study, we explored the inner experience of self-management behaviors in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes in rural areas to inform targeted interventions.

METHODS

A phenomenological research design was used to explore the inner experience of self-management in rural elderly diabetes. Ten elderly diabetic patients were sampled from December 2022 to March 2023 in rural areas of Yangcheng County, Jincheng City, ShanXi Province, China. The seven-step Colaizzi phenomenological was used to analyze the interview data and generate themes.

RESULTS

Four themes emerged: "Insufficient self-management cognition", "Negative self-management attitude", "Slack self-management behavior", and "No time for self-management".

CONCLUSION

The level of self-management among elderly patients with type 2 diabetes in rural areas is low. Healthcare professionals should develop targeted interventions aimed at enhancing their cognitive levels, modifying their coping styles, and improving their self-management abilities to improve their quality of life.

Development and validation of a nomogram to predict medication risk based on a knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) survey of residents in Shanxi Province, China

Objective

Unsafe medication practices and medication errors are a major cause of harm in healthcare systems around the world. This study aimed to explore the factors that influence the risk of medication and provide medication risk evaluation model for adults in Shanxi province, China.

Methods

The data was obtained from the provincial questionnaire from May to December 2022, relying on the random distribution of questionnaires and online questionnaires by four hospitals in Shanxi Province. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to explore the factors affecting the KAP score of residents. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the independent risk factors, and the nomogram was verified by receiver operating characteristic curve, calibration and decision curve analysis.

Results

A total of 3,388 questionnaires were collected, including 3,272 valid questionnaires. The average scores of drugs KAP were 63.2 ± 23.04, 33.05 ± 9.60, 23.67 ± 6.75 and 33.16 ± 10.87, respectively. On the evaluation criteria of the questionnaire, knowledge was scored "fair", attitude and practice were scored "good". Sex, monthly income, place of residence, insurance status, education level, and employment were regarded as independent risk factors for medication and a nomogram was established by them.

Conclusion

Males, low-income, and low-educated people are important factors affecting the risk of medication. The application of the model can help residents understand the risk of their own medication behavior and reduce the harm of medication.

Knowledge, perceptions and practices towards diabetes risk in sub-Saharan Africa: a mixed-methods scoping review

OBJECTIVE

To synthesise current evidence on knowledge, perceptions and practices towards type 2 diabetes risk in sub-Saharan Africa.

DESIGN

Mixed-methods scoping review, which included 101 studies (seventy-three quantitative, twenty qualitative and eight mixed methods) from seven electronic databases.

SETTING

Sub-Saharan Africa, 2000-2023.

PARTICIPANTS

Men and women without diabetes with mean ages ranging from 20 to 63 years.

RESULTS

The majority of participants in most studies knew the three main diabetes modifiable risk factors - excess weight, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity. However, most people with excess weight in almost all studies underestimated their weight. Further, the self-described ideal body weight was between midpoint of normal weight and the upper limits of overweight in most quantitative studies and was described as not too skinny but not too fat in qualitative studies. In the majority of studies, participants reported low engagement in weight control, high regular sugar intake, and low regular fruit and vegetable intake but moderate to high engagement in physical activity. Barriers to reducing diabetes risk were social (e.g. societal perceptions promoting weight gain) and environmental (e.g. limited affordability of healthy foods, high accessibility of Western diets and lack of physical activity facilities).

CONCLUSION

There is a need for multicomponent type 2 diabetes prevention interventions that increase knowledge of identifying diabetes risk (e.g. what constitutes excess weight) and create social and physical environments that support healthy lifestyles (e.g. societal perceptions that promote healthy living, increased availability and affordability of healthy foods and physical activity facilities).

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding cardiovascular disease prevention among middle school students in China: a cross-sectional study

Background

The prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is rapidly increasing globally. With a concerning increase among adolescents due to unhealthy habits, obesity, and hypertension, understanding the current status of knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to CVD prevention among middle school students is crucial for developing effective school-based health programs to prevent CVD.

Methods

The analytic cross-sectional survey is used in questionnaires to assess KAP related to CVD prevention among middle school students (N = 17,731) from 50 schools across 16 provinces in China in June-July 2023. The pass rate of KAP scores is categorized as good and poor. Independent predictors of good KAP of CVD prevention are ascertained using a binary logistic regression model.

Results

The study surveyed 8,118 (45.78%) junior high school students and 9,613 (54.22%) high school students. The overall mean [standard deviation (SD)] for the knowledge, attitude, and practice scores were 26.88 (8.12), 53.53 (7.22), and 39.80 (5.96), respectively. The knowledge scores had the lowest pass rate at 56.89%. Only 6.83% of the students know "the definition of blood pressure in adolescents." Attitudes toward health were positive, though the attitude regarding "the danger of prolonged sedentary to cardiovascular health" scored lowest at 73.55%. The practice section had a pass rate of 89.30%; 40.27% of students reported that they spend more than an hour a day on screens. Only one-third of the students would go to bed before 12 o'clock. In univariate analysis, junior high school and high school students differed significantly in knowledge and practice (p < 0.001), but attitude did not differ significantly (p = 0.103).

Conclusion

The majority of students lack sufficient knowledge about CVD. It is also found that socioeconomic background, family environment, and educational levels have an impact on cardiovascular health behaviors among students. Strengthening health education involving students, parents, teachers, and communities is essential to promote health knowledge and practices among adolescents.