Yan Wu,1 Zhenzhen Xu,2 Jing Dong,3 Wenzhong Zhang,2 Jing Li,2 Hong Ji1 

1Department of Nursing, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University (Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital), Jinan, Shandong, 250014, People’s Republic of China; 2School of Nursing, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong Province, 250014, People’s Republic of China; 3School of Nursing, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Taian, Shandong Province, 271016, People’s Republic of China

Correspondence: Hong Ji, Department of Nursing, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University (Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital), Jinan, Shandong, 250014, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-13791120369, Email honghongji-2005@163.com

Background: Older age and female sex are risk factors for osteoarthritis and osteoporosis (OP). This study evaluated the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) in China regarding OP and its prevention. This cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study enrolled patients with KOA at four grade-A tertiary hospitals in Shandong Province between 1st September and 20th November 2022.
Methods: The administered questionnaire contained 55 items across four dimensions (demographic information, knowledge, attitude, and practice). Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with an overall questionnaire score ≥ 70% of the maximum possible score. SPSS 26.0 was used for the analyses; P< 0.05 was considered significant.
Results: The analysis included 434 participants (261 females). The median knowledge, attitude, and practice scores were 7 (interquartile range: 5– 10) (possible range, 0– 17 points), 44 (interquartile range: 42– 49) (possible range, 11– 55 points), and 43 (interquartile range: 38– 47) (possible range, 13– 65 points), respectively. Multivariable logistic regression indicated that female sex (odds ratio [OR], 2.421; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.558– 3.762; P< 0.001), age 56– 65 years-old (OR, 4.222; 95% CI, 1.763– 10.109; P=0.001 vs ≤ 55 years-old), age > 65 years-old (OR, 4.358; 95% CI, 1.863– 10.195; P=0.001 vs ≤ 55 years-old), middle/high/technical secondary school education (OR, 1.853; 95% CI, 1.002– 3.428; P=0.049 vs primary school or below), and having KOA for 4– 5 years (OR, 2.682; 95% CI, 1.412– 5.094; P=0.003 vs ≤ 3 years) were independently associated with a high KAP score.
Conclusion: There is room for improvement in the knowledge and practices of patients with osteoarthritis in China regarding OP. The findings of this study may facilitate the design and implementation of education programs to increase awareness about OP prevention among patients with KOA.

Keywords: osteoarthritis of the knee, osteoporosis, disease prevention, surveys and questionnaires, health knowledge, attitudes, practice