Comparison of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Patients with Chronic Diseases Referred to Clinics Affiliated with Iranian and Iraqi Teaching Hospitals Regarding COVID-۱۹

Background: The effectiveness of health education programs depends on the knowledge, attitude, and practice of research units. Patients with chronic diseases are among the high-risk groups of COVID-۱۹. Due to the large number of Iranian and Iraqi pilgrims in the two countries, the present study aimed to compare the knowledge, attitude, and practice of chronic patients regarding COVID-۱۹.Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on ۱۰۰۰ patients over ۱۸ years of age with chronic diseases referred to Baghdad Medical City (مدینه الطب) in Baghdad (Iraq), and Imam Reza and Ghaem Hospitals in Mashhad (Iran), in ۲۰۲۱. Available sampling was performed, and the standard Akalu knowledge, attitude, and practice questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (version ۱۶.۰).Results: The mean age of patients was ۵۴.۰۸ ± ۱۱.۱۳. A total of ۳۵.۷% of research units had a high school diploma, more than ۷۷% were married, more than ۵۷% were female, and more than ۴۶% were employed. The mean of knowledge scores in Iranian patients was ۷.۴۰± ۱.۵۴ and in Iraqi patients was ۷.۰۳ ± ۱.۷۹, which showed no significant difference (p = ۰.۶۳). The mean of attitude scores in Iranian patients was ۲۷.۳۰ ± ۳.۵۸ and in Iraqi patients was ۲۶.۶۲ ± ۶.۷۲, which showed no significant difference (p = ۰.۳۶). The mean of performance scores in Iranian patients was ۴.۳۱ ± ۱.۰۳ and in Iraqi patients was ۳.۶۷ ± ۱.۳۲, which showed a significant difference (p <۰.۰۵).Conclusion: The mean scores of knowledge, attitude, and practice in both groups were unfavorable, but the level of practice in Iranian patients was better than in Iraqi patients.