Knowledge, attitude, and practice of healthcare professionals toward clinically applying graduated compression stockings: results of a Chinese web-based survey

Abstract

This study had three objectives: (1) to investigate healthcare professionals’ knowledge, attitude, and practice toward clinically applying graduated compression stockings, (2) to analyze the influencing factors, and (3) to provide data to support departments that develop health policies. A self-administered web-based survey was completed by 1,444 healthcare professionals, including physicians and nurses from 15tertiary hospitals and four secondary hospitals from 10 provinces in China. Reliability analysis and exploratory factor analysis were used to evaluate the researcher-designed questionnaire’s reliability and validity. The formal questionnaire, which included demographic data (eight items), knowledge (ten items), attitudes (four items), and clinical practice patterns (six items), was distributed among healthcare professionals. The relationships and mechanisms among the variables were explored using descriptive statistical analysis, Pearson’s correlation coefficients, and multiple linear regression analysis. Of the 1,444 respondents, 31.2% had good knowledge of clinically applying graduated compression stockings, 83.5% had a positive attitude toward clinically applying them, and 30.4% of respondents exhibited normative behavior when applying them. The multiple linear regression analysis indicated that training was an important factor influencing the knowledge, attitude, and practice toward clinically applying graduated compression stockings. The healthcare professionals’ attitude toward clinically applying graduated compression stockings was positive, but the related knowledge was poor, and the code of behavior was deficient. Medical institutions should improve training for clinically applying graduated compression stockings among healthcare professionals and standardize the use of graduated compression stockings to facilitate the prevention of hospital-acquired venous thromboembolism.

Healthcare professionals’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding graduated compression stockings: a survey of China’s big-data network

“…A majority of the respondents reported a positive attitude towards GCS clinical usage. The lowest proportion of “good” classifications for the 11 items in the knowledge dimension and the 7 items in the practice dimension were 40.6 and 41.8%, respectively, which was higher than that reported in previous surveys [ 11 , 13 ]. These results depended on the implementation of the National Program.…”

“…Effective VTE prevention is an intense research area, and many guidelines [2][3][4][5][6][7][8] have been developed regarding VTE prophylaxis. Some studies suggest that the existence of a large real-world gap between Western evidence-based guidelines and the current knowledge of healthcare professionals represents an impediment to effective VTE prophylaxis implementation [9][10][11][12][13]. Accurately identifying the barriers to VTE prophylaxis implementation is an important part of VTE prevention.…”

Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Toward COVID-19 in China: An Online Cross-Sectional Survey

“…The questionnaire items were designed by the authors mainly based on the information and basic protective measures acquired from the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, the Chinese CDC, the WHO, and various websites of Chinese government agencies, official media, as well as some previous studies as of February 16, 2020. 15 , 16 In the pre-investigation, researchers screened all items and created the formal questionnaire through exploratory factor analysis using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows version 23.0. The formal questionnaire was composed of seven different sections: 1) Sociodemographic characteristics: gender, age, province, living district, occupation, marital status, level of education, family members.…”

Reasons for Patient Non-Compliance With Compression Stockings as a Treatment for Varicose Veins in the Lower Limbs: A Qualitative Study

“…This study also revealed that there is a lack of awareness about GECS therapy among the clinicians and nurses, which resulted in limited educational programs. In fact, a study reported that knowledge about GECS among Chinese healthcare professionals was poor [21]. Although "Chinese experts agree on the diagnosis and treatment of chronic venous diseases", suggesting that patients with CVD should accept compression therapy throughout the whole process [3], there are no specific guidelines about GECS therapy.…”

“…Furthermore, healthcare practitioners should prescribe GECS and take into consideration patients' individual differences, including diagnosis, pressure level, quantity, and length. Above all, more attention should be paid to compliance, which is vital for a treatment's success, and in particular, the differences between pressure levels and the length of GECS should be studied [21]. Patients' compliance with lower level of GECS is likely to be higher than compliance to high levels, which suggests that clinicians should consider prescribing lower levels GECS and assess compliance before increasing compression levels.…”