Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Patients with Moderate to Severe Acne Regarding Oral Medication Therapy: A Structural Equation Modeling Analysis

Purpose: Acne affects up to 9% of the global population, with rising prevalence among Chinese urban youth, leading to significant physical and psychological impacts. Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Dingxi People's Hospital. Data on the demographics and knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of patients with moderate to severe acne were collected through questionnaire distribution. Results: A total of 561 patients were included in the study, of them 58.65% females, The majority of participants believed that they have sufficient knowledge of routine acne management and 72.72% reported that they are satisfied with the current effectiveness of medication treatment. However, predominant answer for all questions regarding the oral treatment of acne (40.29%-58.82%) or combination therapy (23.89%-41.53%) was "unsure". Knowledge score was positively correlated with attitude score (p < 0.001) and practice score (p < 0.001), and higher knowledge scale scores were associated with higher practice scores according to logistic regression analysis (p = 0.002). According to the Structural equation modelling knowledge influenced practice directly and indirectly. Conclusion: This study found that patients with moderate to severe acne in China might overestimate their knowledge of oral medication therapy and ability to manage acne. Targeted healthcare education is needed to address the identified gaps, ultimately optimizing acne management strategies and enhancing patient outcomes.