February 15, 2025

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Knowledge, attitude, and practice of healthcare professionals towards irritable bowel syndrome: a multicenter, cross-sectional study

Knowledge, attitude, and practice of healthcare professionals towards irritable bowel syndrome: a multicenter, cross-sectional study

Healthcare professionals had inadequate knowledge, positive attitude and suboptimal practice towards IBS. Their KAP might be influenced by gender, education, occupation, professional title, department, with families have IBS, years of work experience, and institution type. This study emphasizes the need for comprehensive strategies that enhance knowledge, align attitudes with evidence-based practices, and surmount barriers to ultimately enhance clinical practice and outcomes for individuals with IBS.

The findings from this study on healthcare professionals’ knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding IBS reveal a significant gap between healthcare professionals’ attitudes and knowledge, with a relatively positive attitude contrasted with inadequate knowledge scores15. This discrepancy emphasizes the need for targeted educational interventions to bridge the knowledge-attitude gap16. While these results align with prior research indicating a knowledge deficit among healthcare professionals, it remains surprising that such a positive attitude does not consistently translate into optimal clinical practice17. Addressing barriers such as time constraints and resource limitations is crucial for improving patient care18.

Notably, knowledge scores exhibited variations based on gender, education, occupation, professional title, department, and With families have IBS, suggesting that these factors have a discernible influence on healthcare professionals’ understanding of IBS19. Male participants had significantly higher knowledge compared to females, highlighting the importance of gender-specific educational interventions. Professionals with higher education levels, particularly those with a Master’s Degree or higher, exhibited greater knowledge, underscoring the significance of advanced education in enhancing understanding20. Additionally, differences in practice scores across different institution types suggest a potential influence of hospital settings on IBS management practices21. These findings underscore the need for tailored strategies to address the specific knowledge gaps, attitudes, and practices within distinct subgroups of healthcare professionals22. To improve clinical practice and patient outcomes, targeted educational interventions, professional development programs, and institutional support systems should be designed to address these variations comprehensively, thereby fostering more effective and standardized care for individuals with IBS23.

The study also reveals areas of alignment with established knowledge and significant gaps that warrant focused discussion. Notably, the results indicate a robust understanding among participants of core IBS concepts such as the utility of colonoscopy for ruling out organic lesions and the characteristic clinical presentation of IBS, which is consistent with the prevailing medical literature24. This knowledge foundation aligns with the conventional diagnostic and epidemiological aspects of IBS, reflecting a positive aspect of clinical practice. However, it is concerning that a significant proportion of participants displayed unfamiliarity with complementary therapeutic modalities like acupuncture and moxibustion, as well as traditional Chinese medicine’s perspective on IBS pathogenesis. Moreover, the relatively limited awareness of the potential link between infectious gastrointestinal inflammation and IBS development raises questions about the integration of emerging research findings into clinical practice. To enhance clinical practice, targeted educational interventions are essential to foster a broader understanding of complementary therapies and to ensure healthcare professionals stay abreast of evolving insights into the multifactorial nature of IBS. These interventions can bridge existing knowledge gaps and empower healthcare professionals to provide more holistic and evidence-informed care to individuals with IBS25. The surprising discrepancies in awareness regarding these alternative and emerging aspects of IBS may be attributed to variations in educational backgrounds, access to updated information, or institutional emphasis on conventional approaches26. Therefore, it is imperative to address these discrepancies by integrating comprehensive and contemporary IBS education into healthcare professional training programs and promoting continuous learning in clinical practice.

The attitudes of the respondents offer valuable insights that can significantly inform and improve clinical practice in the management of IBS. Healthcare professionals generally view IBS with a favorable prognosis and emphasize the importance of maintaining a positive outlook among patients, reflecting an overall optimistic stance within the healthcare community27. These attitudes underscore the potential benefit of adopting a patient-centered approach that not only addresses the physical aspects of IBS but also acknowledges the importance of psychological well-being in symptom management. Furthermore, the strong consensus on the need to consider dietary habits and the role of patient involvement in achieving a favorable prognosis highlights the significance of comprehensive care that integrates dietary guidance and active patient participation. Additionally, the call for diligence in considering differential diagnoses underscores the complexity of IBS diagnosis and the need for healthcare professionals to maintain a vigilant approach to rule out other conditions28. Moreover, the recognition that healthcare professionals should play a pivotal role in guiding patients to prevent IBS triggers emphasizes the importance of patient education and proactive preventive measures. Lastly, the emphasis on non-gastrointestinal healthcare professionals’ proficiency in recognizing IBS symptoms underscores the necessity of interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge dissemination across medical specialties.

Regarding practice, a substantial proportion of healthcare professionals sought IBS-related information and guidelines, reflecting a commitment to staying informed and evidence-based in their practice. This aligns with the dynamic nature of medical knowledge and the need for continuous learning to provide optimal care29. Furthermore, their active participation in IBS-related training reflects dedication to professional development, emphasizing the importance of equipping healthcare professionals with the latest insights and skills for IBS management. They play a significant role in patient education, showing a comprehensive approach to IBS care. However, the potential consideration of forgoing necessary diagnostic tests due to patient misunderstanding suggests a need for improved patient communication and education to safeguard essential diagnostic procedures.

The results of the correlation analysis unveiled important associations among the key variables in this study. Positive correlations were observed between knowledge and attitude30, as well as between knowledge and practice, emphasizing the interconnection between these components in healthcare professionals’ IBS management. Furthermore, a significant correlation was found between attitude and practice, underlining the inherent relationship among these factors31. The SEM analysis validated these relationships, indicating a well-fitting model. Importantly, this analysis elucidated direct influence, with knowledge influencing both attitude and practice, and attitudes playing a direct role in shaping practice. These findings collectively emphasize the significance of enhancing knowledge as a foundation for fostering positive attitudes and, in turn, translating them into clinical practice for more effective IBS management32.

This study had limitations. Firstly, the cross-sectional design employed in this study limits the establishment of causal relationships between variables, as it captures data at a single point in time. This design restricts our ability to ascertain whether changes in knowledge, attitude, or practice occurred over time or were influenced by external factors. Additionally, the study was conducted within a specific time frame and in five hospitals of Shandong Province, potentially limiting generalizability of the findings to a broader population of healthcare professionals in different settings around China. Furthermore, the use of self-administered questionnaires may introduce response bias, as participants may provide socially desirable responses or have varying interpretations of questionnaire items. Lastly, a notable portion of participants were employed in gastroenterology departments, potentially introducing bias due to their specific professional background.

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