Knowledge, attitude, and practice towards thyroid nodules and cancer among patients: a cross-sectional study

AIM: This study aimed to explore the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) towards thyroid nodules (TN) and thyroid cancer (TC) among patients. SUBJECT AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled patients with TN or TC at the Second Affiliated Hospital of the University of South China between September 2022 and February 2023. A self-administered questionnaire was developed to collect demographic information of the participants, and their knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) towards TN and TC. RESULTS: A total of 510 valid questionnaires were collected. Among the participants, 102 (20.00%) were male, and 197 (38.63%) had the diagnosis of TC. The knowledge, attitude and practice scores were 5.76 ± 3.09 (possible range: 0–12), 31.07 ± 2.73 (possible range: 9–45), and 18.97 ± 2.92 (possible range: 5–25), respectively. Multivariate logistic regression showed that age of above 50 years old (OR = 0.27, 95%CI: 0.12–0.64, p = 0.003), junior college or bachelor’s degree and above (OR = 4.97, 95%CI: 1.74–14.20, p = 0.003), monthly income of 5,000–10,000 CNY (OR = 2.02, 95%CI: 1.09–3.74, p = 0.025) and > 10,000 CNY (OR = 5.67, 95%CI: 2.49–12.94, p < 0.001) were independently associated with knowledge. The good knowledge (OR = 3.87, 95%CI: 1.89–7.95, p < 0.001), high school or technical secondary school (OR = 0.52, 95%CI: 0.30–0.88, p = 0.016), and monthly income of 5,000–10,000 CNY (OR = 2.02, 95%CI: 1.13–3.63, p = 0.018) were independently associated with practice. CONCLUSION: Patients demonstrated poor knowledge, moderate attitude, and proactive practice towards TN and TC.