Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Kidney Stone Formers in Armenia Regarding Prevention of Kidney Stone Disease

Abstract

Background: One of the most common disorders in urology is Kidney Stone Disease (KSD). It affects about 10% of adult male and 5% of female population in the world and has a high recurrence rate. Research shows that future formation of kidney stones can be prevented by special diets (low in salt, spinach, fatty foods, animal proteins, and high in vegetables, water, and fresh fruits). Objectives: The purpose of the study was to evaluate knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) about KSD prevention among kidney stone formers in Armenia and identify their relationships with demographic characteristics. Methods: Study design was cross-sectional telephone survey. The study included all patients from Mikaelyan Surgical Institute who were treated by lithotripsy during 2009-2011. The sampling frame included all the patients treated during this time period. The study team developed the study instrument based on instruments from the KAP Survey on Healthy Nutrition and Lifestyle and the guideline of the Armenian Urological Association. Basic descriptive statistics were used for describing demographic characteristics. Simple and multiple regression analyses were performed to test the associations between the main variables, while controlling for potential confounding and interactions. Results: The study population included 140 patients, contact and refusal rates were 72.9% and 5.9%, respectively. Mean age of the participants was 46 ±13.5 years and about 30% completed university education. The proportion of males and females was approximately equal. About half of the respondents (54%) had kidney stones at the time of the survey. In simple linear regression analysis the knowledge score and duration of disease were associated with the practice score (p<0.05), and the association of gender with practice was marginally significant (p=0.06). Multiple linear regression showed statistically significant association between practice score and knowledge score, marital status, gender, and interactions between knowledge and marital status and knowledge and duration of disease. Conclusion: This is the first study conducted in Armenia that assessed KSD patients’ knowledge, attitude, and practice for prevention of recurrence. The study showed that despite respondents’ sufficient knowledge about KSD prevention they did not practice protective behavior. More research is needed to identify the reasons for this finding.