Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Among Patients with Multiple Myeloma: A Cross‑Sectional Study Using Structural Equation Modeling in a Single Tertiary Hospital in Wenzhou, China
Source: PubMed Central Open Access, NCBI / U.S. National Library of Medicine
Introduction This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) regarding the disease. intro Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted among patients with MM at Ruian People’s Hospital in Zhejiang Province, China, between August and November 2024. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire designed to gather demographic information and assess participants’ KAP. Results A total of 442 valid questionnaires were analyzed. Among the respondents, 226 (51.1%) were male, and 298 (67.4%) were newly diagnosed with MM. The mean scores for KAP were 13.70 ± 5.69 (range: 0–22), 32.90 ± 2.89 (range: 10–50), and 40.12 ± 6.89 (range: 10–50), respectively. Structural equation modeling revealed that duration of diseases (β = 0.097, P = 0.047) and first-visit department (β = −0.198, P < 0.001) were directly associated with knowledge. Knowledge (β = −0.554, P < 0.001) was directly associated with attitude, which deserves cautious interpretation. Knowledge (β = 0.512, P < 0.001), attitude (β = −0.628, P < 0.001), and education (β = 0.091, P = 0.016) were directly associated with practice. Meanwhile, the first-visit department (β = 0.110, P < 0.001) was indirectly associated with attitude. Knowledge (β = 0.348, P < 0.001), duration of diseases (β = 0.050, P = 0.050), and first-visit department (β = −0.102, P < 0.001) were indirectly associated with practice. Given the cross-sectional design, the SEM results should be reg
Abstract
Introduction This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) regarding the disease. intro Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted among patients with MM at Ruian People’s Hospital in Zhejiang Province, China, between August and November 2024. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire designed to gather demographic information and assess participants’ KAP. Results A total of 442 valid questionnaires were analyzed. Among the respondents, 226 (51.1%) were male, and 298 (67.4%) were newly diagnosed with MM. The mean scores for KAP were 13.70 ± 5.69 (range: 0–22), 32.90 ± 2.89 (range: 10–50), and 40.12 ± 6.89 (range: 10–50), respectively. Structural equation modeling revealed that duration of diseases (β = 0.097, P = 0.047) and first-visit department (β = −0.198, P < 0.001) were directly associated with knowledge. Knowledge (β = −0.554, P < 0.001) was directly associated with attitude, which deserves cautious interpretation. Knowledge (β = 0.512, P < 0.001), attitude (β = −0.628, P < 0.001), and education (β = 0.091, P = 0.016) were directly associated with practice. Meanwhile, the first-visit department (β = 0.110, P < 0.001) was indirectly associated with attitude. Knowledge (β = 0.348, P < 0.001), duration of diseases (β = 0.050, P = 0.050), and first-visit department (β = −0.102, P < 0.001) were indirectly associated with practice. Given the cross-sectional design, the SEM results should be regarded as hypothesis‑generating rather than confirmatory. Discussion Patients with MM exhibited insufficient knowledge and slightly negative attitudes. Although mean practice scores were relatively high, important gaps persisted in key behaviors. These findings highlight the need for tailored educational strategies that account for patients’ first‑visit department and disease duration, and suggest that future interventions should address informational gaps alongside the emotional and practical concerns associated with disease awareness.