# Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding the postoperative management and TSH suppression therapy among patients with thyroid cancer

## TL;DR

This study found that thyroid cancer patients have poor knowledge but positive attitudes and moderate practices regarding TSH suppression therapy.

## Contribution

The study provides insights into the KAP of TSH suppression therapy among thyroid cancer patients in Zhanjiang.

## Key findings

- Patients had poor knowledge, favorable attitudes, and moderate practices toward TSH suppression therapy.
- Knowledge was directly and indirectly linked to practice through attitudes.
- Strong correlations were found between knowledge, attitude, and practice scores.

## Abstract

Patient adherence to thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) suppression therapy is crucial for optimizing prognosis.

This study aimed to examine the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) toward TSH suppression therapy among patients. This cross-sectional study was conducted at our Hospital between March 2023 and October 2023 and included patients receiving TSH suppression therapy. A self-designed questionnaire was employed to collect their demographic characteristics and KAP. The analysis included 528 valid questionnaires.

The mean knowledge, attitude, and practice scores were 11.66 ± 5.82 (possible range: 0-22), 33.31 ± 4.97 (possible range: 0-40), and 24.46 ± 3.46 (possible range: 0-34), respectively, indicating poor knowledge, favorable attitudes, and moderate practice. The knowledge scores were correlated to the attitude (r=0.399, P<0.001) and practice (r=0.401, P<0.001) scores, while the attitude scores were correlated to the practice scores (r=0.512, P<0.001). The structural equation modeling revealed that knowledge directly influenced attitude (β=0.34, P<0.001) and practice (β=0.13, P<0.001) and indirectly influenced practice through attitude (β=0.10, P<0.001).

Patients receiving TSH suppression therapy in Zhanjiang demonstrated poor knowledge, favorable attitudes, and moderate practices toward TSH suppression therapy.