Dan Xiang,1 Li Yuan,1 Yan Wu,2 Yue Yuan,1 Shuaiju Liao,1 Weimin Chen,2 Min Zhang,1 Qian Zhang,1 Li Ding,1 Yangtian Wang1 

1Department of Endocrinology, Taikang Xianlin Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210000, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Health Management Center, Taikang Xianlin Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210000, People’s Republic of China

Correspondence: Yangtian Wang, Department of Endocrinology, Taikang Xianlin Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210000, People’s Republic of China, Email sky161632@aliyun.com Dan Xiang, Department of Endocrinology, Taikang Xianlin Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210000, People’s Republic of China, Email xiangdan1230@126.com

Objective: To investigate the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of patients diagnosed with hyperuricemia toward hyperuricemia.
Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled patients with hyperuricemia who sought medical care at Taikang Xianlin Drum Tower Hospital between September 15, 2023, and January 11, 2024. A self-administered questionnaire was developed to collect participants’ socio-demographic information and KAP scores regarding hyperuricemia. The threshold for sufficient knowledge, positive attitude, and proactive practice was ≥ 70.0% of the total score.
Results: This study included 483 non-problematic valid questionnaires, with a mean age of 41.83± 14.13 years. The mean knowledge, attitude, and practice scores were 14.65± 3.23 (66.59% of the possible maximum of 22), 40.89± 4.32 (74.35% of the possible maximum of 55), and 25.66± 4.54 (73.31% of the possible maximum of 35). A master’s degree or above education (OR=2.555, 95%CU: 1.059– 6.164, P=0.037), an income of 10,000– 20,000 CNY (OR=2.216, 95% CI: 1.157– 4.244, P=0.016), an income of > 20,000 CNY (OR=2.237, 95% CI: 1.091– 4.586, P=0.028), last uric acid test within the past year (OR=0.583, 95% CI: 0.341– 0.997, P=0.049), and not taking uric acid-lowering medication (OR=0.326, 95% CI: 0.204– 0.520, P< 0.001) were independently associated with knowledge. The knowledge scores (OR=1.181, 95% CI: 1.100– 1.269, P< 0.001), attitude scores (OR=1.122, 95% CI: 1.063– 1.184, P< 0.001), age (OR=1.023, 95% CI: 1.005– 1.041, P=0.011), current drinker (OR=0.489, 95% CI: 0.301– 0.792, P=0.004), last uric acid test within 1 year (OR=0.488, 95% CI: 0.266– 0.894, P=0.020), last uric acid test over 1 year ago (OR=0.297, 95% CI: 0.151– 0.585, P< 0.001), and high uric acid levels at the last test (OR=0.542, 95% CI: 0.299– 0.980, P=0.043) were independently associated with practice. The structured equation model showed that knowledge positively influenced attitude (β=0.676, P< 0.001) and practice (β=0.494, P=0.002). Attitude positively influenced practice (β=0.624, P< 0.001).
Conclusion: Patients with hyperuricemia have insufficient knowledge but a positive attitude and proactive practice toward hyperuricemia. Educational and motivational interventions should be designed to improve practice.

Keywords: knowledge, attitude, practice, hyperuricemia, self-management, cross-sectional study