Assessing healthcare professional knowledge, attitudes, and practices on hypertension management. Announcing a new World Hypertension League resource.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Campbell NRC
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8031364 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:Background Antibiotic resistance is a serious public health threat that results mainly secondary to antibiotics misuse. The present study aimed to determine the knowledge, attitude, and practice toward antibiotic use among the Syrian population. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted at the outpatient clinics of two major hospitals in Damascus, Syria. Applying a random convenience sampling, data were collected in a 1-week period by interviewing participants using a structured questionnaire, which targeted demographics, practice, knowledge, and attitude. Data were used to assess the relationship between the knowledge level and attitudes and demographics. Results Most respondents had a moderate level of knowledge (187, 74.8%) and a moderate attitude score (148, 59.2%). In addition, most respondents (149, 59.6%) stated that they take antibiotics based on pharmacist advice only and do not complete the full antibiotic course (200, 80%). A significant association was found between the knowledge level and financial status ( p -value = 0.003), education level ( p -value = 0.001), and having relatives working in the health care sector ( p -value = 0.021). In addition, a significant association was found between the attitude and having health insurance. Conclusion This study provides baseline evidence about the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding antibiotics among the Syrian population, that will help in designing targeted interventions to solve the inappropriate use of antibiotics.
| S-EPMC8500066 | biostudies-literature
Project description:We examined the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of primary care doctors in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia using a recently developed World Hypertension League survey. The survey was administered as part of a quality assurance initiative to enhance hypertension control. A total of 577 surveys were distributed and 467 were completed (81% response rate). The respondents had an average age of 35 years and 90.1% were female. Knowledge of hypertension epidemiology was low (13.5% of questions answered correctly); 31% of clinical practice questions had correct answers and confidence in performing specific tasks to improve hypertension control had 63.2% "desirable/correct" answers. Primary care doctors mostly had a positive attitude toward hypertension management (76.5% desirable/correct answers) and highly prioritized hypertension management activities (85.7% desirable/correct answers). Some important highlights included the majority (> 80%) overestimating hypertension awareness, treatment, and control rates; 78.2% used aneroid blood pressure manometers; 15% systematically screened adults for hypertension in their clinics; 21.8% reported 2 or more drugs were required to control hypertension in most people; and 16.1% reported most people could be controlled by lifestyle changes alone. 55% of respondents were not comfortable prescribing more than 1 or 2 antihypertensive drugs in a patient and the percentage of desirable/correct responses to treating various high-risk patients was low. Most (53%-74%) supported task shifting to nonphysician health care providers except for drug prescribing, which only 13.9% supported. A hypertension clinical education program is currently being designed based on the specific needs identified in the survey.
| S-EPMC8030928 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Causal graphs provide a key tool for optimizing the validity of causal effect estimates. Although a large literature exists on the mathematical theory underlying the use of causal graphs, less literature exists to aid applied researchers in understanding how best to develop and use causal graphs in their research projects. We sought to understand why researchers do or do not regularly use DAGs by surveying practicing epidemiologists and medical researchers on their knowledge, level of interest, attitudes, and practices towards the use of causal graphs in applied epidemiology and health research. We used Twitter and the Society for Epidemiologic Research to disseminate the survey. Overall, a majority of participants reported being comfortable with using causal graphs and reported using them 'sometimes', 'often', or 'always' in their research. Having received training appeared to improve comprehension of the assumptions displayed in causal graphs. Many of the respondents who did not use causal graphs reported lack of knowledge as a barrier to using DAGs in their research. Causal graphs are of interest to epidemiologists and medical researchers, but there are several barriers to their uptake. Additional training and clearer guidance are needed. In addition, methodological developments regarding visualization of effect measure modification and interaction on causal graphs is needed.
| S-EPMC8609501 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundThe blacklegged tick (BLT) is a vector for the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb), which causes Lyme disease. Range expansion of the BLT in Canada is related to an increased risk of Lyme disease in many regions. Current literature, such as the 2018 American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine consensus statement, suggests that there may be differences in the approaches of veterinarians who encounter dogs exposed to Bb and dogs with Lyme disease.ObjectivesTo determine current knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Canadian veterinarians regarding Lyme disease in dogs.AnimalsNone.MethodsAn online survey was distributed to Canadian veterinarians through veterinary associations and industries. Survey responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics, spatial analysis, Fisher's exact tests, and univariable logistic regression.ResultsAt the completion of the survey, 192 responses were received from veterinarians practicing in all 10 Canadian provinces. Answers to short scenario and treatment questions reflected a wide variety of clinical approaches taken by veterinarians. Regional differences were seen in reported tick distribution and clinical approaches.Conclusions and clinical importanceRegional differences and generalized differences were found in approaches used by responding Canadian veterinarians with regard to managing Bb exposure and Lyme disease in dogs. We identified areas for future research and knowledge mobilization for veterinarians.
| S-EPMC7848372 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Increased blood pressure is a leading risk for death globally, and interventions to enhance hypertension control have become a high priority. An important aspect of clinical interventions is understanding the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of differing primary healthcare practitioners. We examined KAP surveys from 803 primary care practitioners in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (response rate 80%), using a comprehensive KAP survey developed by the World Hypertension League (WHL). The WHL KAP survey uniquely includes an assessment of key World Health Organization recommended interventions to enhance hypertension control. There were few substantive differences between healthcare professional disciplines. Primary care practitioners mostly had a positive attitude toward hypertension management. However, confidence and practice in performing specific tasks to control hypertension were suboptimal. A low proportion indicated they systematically screened adults for hypertension and many were not aware of the need to or were confident in prescribing more than two antihypertensive medications. It was the practice of a high proportion of doctors to not pharmacologically treat most people with hypertension who were at high cardiovascular risk. There was a reluctance by physicians to task share hypertension diagnosis, drug prescribing and assessing cardiovascular risk to nurses. The minority of health care professions use a hypertension management algorithm, and few have patient registries with performance reporting functions. There were few substantive differences based on the age, gender, and years of clinical practice of the practitioners. The study findings support the need for standardized education and training of primary care practitioners in Ulaanbaatar to enhance hypertension control.
| S-EPMC8030526 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Epidemiologic studies worldwide have provided substantial evidence of the contributions of environmental exposures to the development of childhood cancer, yet this knowledge has not been integrated into the routine practice of clinicians who care for children with this disease. To identify the basis of this deficit, we sought to assess the environmental history-taking behavior and perceptions of environmental health among pediatric hematologists and oncologists.A web-based survey was sent from June to October 2012 to 427 pediatric oncologists, fellows, and nurse practitioners from 20 US institutions, with an overall response rate of 45%.Survey responses indicated that environmental exposures are of concern to clinicians. The vast majority of respondents (88%) reported receiving questions from families about the relationship between certain environmental exposures and the cancers they regularly treat. However, a lack of comfort with these topics seems to have limited their discussions with families about the role of environmental exposures in childhood cancer pathogenesis. Although 77% of respondents suspected that some of the cases they saw had an environmental origin, their methods of taking environmental histories varied widely. Over 90% of respondents believed that more knowledge of the associations between environmental exposures and childhood cancer would be helpful in addressing these issues with patients.Although limited in size and representativeness of participating institutions, the results of this survey indicate a need for increased training for hematology/oncology clinicians about environmental health exposures related to cancer and prompt translation of emerging research findings in biomedical journals that clinicians read.
| S-EPMC4571458 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundWorm infections are among the most prevalent neglected tropical diseases worldwide. Schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths infections, most common worm infections affecting Rwandan school-aged children, are addressed by the national deworming program since 2014. To date, no published studies have assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the key implementers of the national deworming program conducted at village and school level in Rwanda. This study aimed to assess key stakeholders' knowledge, attitudes, practices, and perspectives about the decentralized national deworming program.Methods/principal findingsWe carried out a quantitative, cross-sectional study with complementary in-depth interviews in two districts of Rwanda in June 2021. From the 852 surveyed community health workers and teachers, 54.1% had a knowledge score considered good (≥80%). The mean knowledge score was 78.04%. From the multivariate analysis, lack of training was shown to increase the odds of having poor knowledge (OR 0.487, 95% CI: 0.328-0.722, p <0.001). The in-depths interviews revealed poor water access and hesitance from caregivers as perceived challenges to the success of the deworming program.ConclusionOur findings demonstrate the importance of training community health workers and schoolteachers on worm infections as they are the key implementers of the deworming program. This would enhance their capacity to provide health education and sensitization on misconceptions and misinformation towards deworming. Moreover, research is needed to assess the impact of poor access to water, sanitation and hygiene facilities on the prevalence of worm infections in Rwanda.
| S-EPMC10437854 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundHypertension contributes significantly to cardiovascular and renal diseases. It can be controlled by lifestyle modifications, however in poor communities there is lack of awareness, and treatment and control of hypertension is often poor. The aim of this study was to determine hypertension knowledge, attitudes and practices in a disadvantaged rural community in Matebeleland South province of Zimbabwe.MethodsWe conducted a descriptive cross-sectional survey on hypertensive patients in the community. A pre-tested and validated interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect demographic, awareness, treatment and control data among consenting hypertensive patients.Results304 respondents were enrolled into the study (mean age, 59 years), and a majority were women (65.4%). The treatment default rate was 30.9%, and 25% of respondents on medication did not know their blood pressure control status. Knowledge on hypertension was poor, with 64.8% of respondents stating that stress was its main cause, 85.9% stated that palpitations were a symptom of hypertension and 59.8% of respondents added salt on the table. The more education respondents had received, the more likely they were knowledgeable about hypertension (odds ratio for secondary education, 3.68 [95% CI: 1.61-8.41], and for tertiary education, 7.52 [95% CI: 2.76-20.46], compared to those without formal education). Those who believed in herbal medicines (50.7%) and those who used traditional medicines (14.5%) were 53% (95% CI: 0.29-0.76) and 68% (95% CI: 0.29-0.76) less likely to be knowledgeable about hypertension compared to those who did not believe in or use traditional medicines, respectively.ConclusionMembers of the community had poor knowledge on hypertension. This was associated with a lack of education and with strong beliefs in herbal and traditional medicines in the community, which influenced attitudes and practices on hypertension. Dietary risk factors were linked to poor knowledge. Hypertensive medicine shortages at the clinic resulted in worsened hypertension care and poor hypertension outcomes in the community.
| S-EPMC6657811 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The aim of this study was to explore the knowledge, attitudes and practices of established general practitioners (GPs) in relation to breastfeeding. 10 GPs in the Australian Nepean Blue Mountains Health District were interviewed and the interviews transcribed and analyzed thematically. Emergent themes from each interview were identified and then compared between and across the 10 interviews. Five themes emerged following the analysis: breastfeeding knowledge and training; attitudes towards breastfeeding; GPs' role in relation to breast feeding; GPs' practices; influence of male gender. All the GPs interviewed had positive attitudes towards breastfeeding, however they were often lacking in knowledge and conviction to be able to provide strong support to women during their breastfeeding journey. Some reported ambivalence in their encouragement of breastfeeding due to their desire to maintain a good relationship with women who chose not to feed this way. Nine of the GPs had little or no formal breastfeeding training and relied mainly on personal experience. Their clinics did not provide formal breastfeeding support including a written breastfeeding friendly policy and most GPs were not proactive in creating such an environment. We hope that the results from this study will assist in developing breastfeeding policies and professional education to support GPs in this role.
| S-EPMC5830034 | biostudies-other
Project description:BackgroundAlthough Colombia has witnessed an important decrease in malaria transmission, the disease remains a public health problem with an estimated ~10 million people currently living in areas with malaria risk and ~61,000 cases reported in 2012. This study aimed to determine and compare the level of knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) about malaria in three endemic communities of Colombia to provide the knowledge framework for development of new intervention strategies for malaria elimination.MethodsA cross-sectional KAP survey was conducted in the municipalities of Tierralta, Buenaventura and Tumaco, categorized according to high risk (HR) and moderate risk (MR) based on the annual parasite index (API). Surveys were managed using REDCap and analysed using MATLAB and GraphPad Prism.ResultsA total of 267 residents, mostly women (74%) were surveyed. Although no differences were observed on the knowledge of classical malaria symptoms between HR and MR regions, significant differences were found in knowledge and attitudes about transmission mechanisms, anti-malarial use and malaria diagnosis. Most responders in both regions (93.5% in MR, and 94.3% in HR areas) indicated use of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) to protect themselves from malaria, and 75.5% of responders in HR indicated they did nothing to prevent malaria transmission outdoors. Despite a high level of knowledge in the study regions, significant gaps persisted relating to practices. Self-medication and poor adherence to treatment, as well as lack of both indoor and outdoor vector control measures, were significantly associated with higher malaria risk.ConclusionsAlthough significant efforts are currently being made by the Ministry of Health to use community education as one of the main components of the control strategy, these generic education programmes may not be applicable to all endemic regions of Colombia given the substantial geographic, ethnic and cultural diversity.
| S-EPMC4113137 | biostudies-literature