Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Related to Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy Among Women with Cervical Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Study.
In a single-center cross-sectional survey of 439 women with cervical cancer, knowledge about radiotherapy and chemotherapy was insufficient and was statistically associated with attitudes and practices, particularly highlighting gaps among rural and less-educated patients.
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In a single-center cross-sectional survey of 439 women with cervical cancer, knowledge about radiotherapy and chemotherapy was insufficient and was statistically associated with attitudes and practices, particularly highlighting gaps among rural and less-educated patients.
Research significance
The study provides observational evidence that greater treatment knowledge is associated with more favorable attitudes and practices; it is reasonable but unproven to hypothesize that tailored patient education could improve treatment understanding, adherence-related behavior, or supportive outcomes, because no educational intervention or clinical outcome was tested.
Source abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) concerning radiotherapy and chemotherapy among women with cervical cancer. METHODS: A single-center cross-sectional study using convenience sampling was conducted at Jiangxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital between April 10 and June 10, 2025. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire that included sociodemographic characteristics and KAP scores. Descriptive analysis, logistic regression, correlation analysis, and structural equation modeling were performed. RESULTS: A total of 439 valid questionnaires were analyzed, yielding an effective response rate of 83.46%. The participants had a mean age of 55.41 ± 9.71 years. The majority of participants were rural residents (54.0%), had received no more than a junior high school education (77.5%), and had been diagnosed within the past year (70.2%). The scores were 15.58 ± 7.61 (possible range: 0-32) for knowledge, 40.23 ± 4.35 (possible range: 10-50) for attitude, and 37.79 ± 6.15 (possible range: 10-50) for practice, respectively. Structural equation modeling showed that knowledge directly affected attitude (β = 0.241, P = 0.026) and practice (β = 0.243, P = 0.007). However, neither the direct effect of attitude on practice nor the indirect effect of knowledge on practice through attitude was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Women with cervical cancer demonstrated insufficient knowledge. Although their overall attitude and practice scores fell within the predefined positive and proactive ranges, item-level findings revealed important gaps in treatment-related perceptions and behaviors. Knowledge emerged as the primary determinant of both attitudes and practices. Targeted patient education programs, particularly those tailored to rural and lower-education populations, may help improve understanding and address specific gaps in treatment-related perceptions and behaviors.