Knowledge, attitude, and practice of psoriatic arthritis among patients with psoriasis

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of psoriatic arthritis among patients with psoriasis. The KAP questionnaire is a widely used tool in public health research, designed to assess individuals’ understanding (knowledge), beliefs (attitude), and behaviors (practice) related to a specific health condition. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Sinopharm Dongfeng General Hospital from September to November 2023. Demographic information and KAP scores were assessed using a structured questionnaire, which evaluated patient knowledge about psoriatic arthritis, their attitude toward managing it, and their practical engagement in preventive or treatment behaviors. Results: In this study, 392 valid questionnaires were analyzed. Of these, 290 respondents (74.0%) were male, and 296 (75.5%) reported no comorbid conditions. The median scores for knowledge, attitude, and practice were 8 (interquartile range [IQR]: 6–10), 21 (IQR: 19–24), and 14 (IQR: 8–22), respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that practice was independently associated with being female (OR = 0.426, 95% CI: 0.259–0.703, p = 0.001), being aged 30–39 years (OR = 2.159, 95% CI: 1.223–3.811, p = 0.008) or 40–49 years (OR = 2.002, 95% CI: 1.019–3.936, p = 0.044), having a Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) score of 11–30 (OR = 2.569, 95% CI: 1.158–5.700, p = 0.020), and not having psoriatic arthritis (OR = 0.300, 95% CI: 0.168–0.537, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Patients with psoriasis had suboptimal knowledge, positive attitude and inactive practice toward psoriatic arthritis. To address this, healthcare providers should prioritize educational interventions, with a specific focus on younger patients, females, and individuals with a higher DLQI score, to enhance awareness and promote proactive management of psoriatic arthritis among this patient population.