Assessment of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Associated with Chronic Kidney Disease in Pakistan

Purpose: Chronic kidney disease has been recognized as a leading public health problem worldwide. The global estimated prevalence of CKD is 13.4%, whereas in Pakistan it is 21.2%. It is a growing health threat therefore understanding knowledge, attitudes, and practices associated with kidney diseases are vital for forming optimal policy and public health responses in the region. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted nationwide. A total of 922 participants were enrolled in this study using convenience sampling technique. Data were obtained using a structured questionnaire in both English and Urdu languages. The questionnaire was designed in four sections, collecting information for demographic data, knowledge assessment, attitudes and practices related to kidney diseases. Descriptive statistics were used to describe demographic characteristics, mean and standard deviation were used for continuous variables. Scores more than 50 percent were classified as satisfactory knowledge about CKD. FINDINGS: Based on the findings of this study majority of the participants (87%) had adequate knowledge regarding the risk factors and common causes of kidney diseases like hypertension, diabetes and excessive use of pain killers. However, knowledge about the proper diagnosis of Kidney diseases was lacking and more than half of the participants (58%) were of the opinion that urine's color, smell and quality is enough to detect kidney disease and lab test for detection is not exclusively needed for the diagnosis. The thought of developing kidney disease was a concern for most of the participants, and even the participants in the well-earned subgroup of working professionals were concerned about the cost of treating kidney disease. A larger proportion of participants (41%) were worried about revealing their diagnosis of kidney disease within the community and up to 89.2% of the participants considered kidney diseases diagnosis as a risk factor for losing their jobs. Regarding the practices, 95.7 % of the participants were willing to visit medical doctor if they were diagnosed with kidney disease and were prepared to prefer medical treatment over Hakeem, homeopathy and home remedies. Overall, participants who are males, middle aged, postgraduate and those with no known co-morbidities and a professional job showed most adequate knowledge related to CKD Implications to Theory Practice and Policy: Our study draws upon the Health Belief Model, a health behavior theory, and its validation is evident in the results obtained. The findings highlight a discernible disparity in chronic kidney disease (CKD) knowledge across diverse demographic groups. Notably, a substantial level of ignorance was identified among participants concerning the diagnosis of kidney diseases. Addressing this knowledge gap is imperative for enhancing the overall health of our general population.