Knowledge, attitude, and practice of healthcare professionals toward cognitive dysfunction in Parkinson's disease and cognitive rehabilitation.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: To investigate the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of healthcare professionals regarding cognitive dysfunction and cognitive rehabilitation in Parkinson's disease (PD). METHODS: This multicenter, cross-sectional survey enrolled physicians and nurses in 10 hospitals between October 2022 and November 2022. A self-administered questionnaire was developed to collect the demographic information of the participants and their knowledge, attitude, and practice toward cognitive dysfunction in PD and cognitive rehabilitation. RESULTS: This study enrolled 224 physicians and 229 nurses. The knowledge, attitude, and practice scores were 12.57 ± 3.76 (total score 22), 29.10 ± 3.71 (total score 32), and 21.07 ± 8.03 (total score 28) among physicians, and 9.97 ± 4.70 (total score 22), 25.27 ± 8.96 (total score 32), and 25.27 ± 8.96 (total score 28) among nurses. Among physicians, the knowledge scores (OR = 4.23, 95%CI 2.36-7.58, P < 0.001) and attitude scores (OR = 3.00, 95%CI 1.67-5.37, P < 0.001) were independently associated with good practice. Among nurses, the knowledge scores (OR = 4.31, 95%CI 2.31-8.05, P < 0.001), attitude scores (OR = 5.18, 95%CI 2.82-9.53, P < 0.001), working department (Ref rehabilitation; neurology OR = 2.26, 95%CI 1.01-5.08, P = 0.048; public health service/chronic disease follow-up center OR = 2.98, 95%CI 1.12-7.92, P = 0.028) were independently associated with good practice. CONCLUSIONS: Physicians and nurses have insufficient knowledge, favorable attitudes, and active practice regarding cognitive dysfunction and cognitive rehabilitation in PD. This study identified gaps in KAP and suggested education activities to improve the KAP toward cognitive dysfunction in PD.