Knowledge, attitude and practice of patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders toward their diseases: a web-based cross-sectional study in a Chinese outpatient setting.

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of patients living with functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) toward their diseases. A web-based cross-sectional study was conducted. The gastroenterology outpatient department of Zhejiang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhejiang, China. The study enrolled 503 patients with FGIDs from the Gastroenterology Outpatient Department of our hospital between September and October 2023. Not applicable for cross-sectional study. Participants completed a self-designed questionnaire that collected sociodemographic information and assessed KAP scores. The primary outcome measures were KAP scores. The mean KAP scores were 6.57±2.76 (possible range: 0-10) for knowledge, 30.00±4.08 (possible range: 7-35) for attitude and 30.16±4.92 (possible range: 8-40) for practice. Pearson's correlation analysis indicated a positive and moderate correlation between knowledge and attitude (r=0.330, p<0.001), a weak positive correlation between knowledge and practice (r=0.152, p=0.001) and a weak positive correlation between attitude and practice (r=0.132, p=0.003). Structural equation model analysis revealed that drinking (estimate=-0.979, p=0.016) and household income (estimate=0.388, p<0.001) directly affected knowledge. Furthermore, knowledge (estimate=0.486, p<0.001) directly influenced attitude, while knowledge (estimate=0.206, p=0.015) and attitude (estimate=0.112, p=0.045) directly affected practice. Patients with FGIDs demonstrated moderate knowledge, positive attitudes and moderate practices regarding their disease. Drinking habits and household income reportedly influenced their KAP outcomes. Targeted educational interventions are warranted to enhance practice behaviours among patients with FGIDs.