Disease-related and self-management-related knowledge, attitude and practice among patients with polycystic ovary syndrome and acne in Hebei, China: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE: Self-management emerges as paramount for effective outcomes in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and acne. This study aimed to investigate the disease and self-management-related knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) in PCOS patients with acne. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: Demographic information and KAP scores were collected through a self-administered questionnaire. PARTICIPANTS: This study enrolled PCOS patients with acne at Hebei Academy of Chinese Medicine Sciences between April and October 2023. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcomes were the total scores for disease-related and self-management-related KAP and the proportions of participants with adequate levels in each KAP dimension. Secondary outcomes were the associations between KAP levels and sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, including employment status and duration since PCOS diagnosis. RESULTS: A total of 489 valid questionnaires were enrolled, including 458 (93.66%) patients unmarried, with a mean age of 23.03±2.46 years. The mean scores of KAP were 11.98±4.82 (possible range: 0-20), 40.48±3.16 (possible range: 11-55), 38.04±3.92 (possible range: 9-45), respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that people who were unemployed or without a fixed job had lower knowledge levels (OR=0.370, 95% CI 0.182 to 0.753, p=0.006), those who had suffered from PCOS for 1-3 years (OR=18.067, 95% CI 9.259 to 35.254, p