Evaluation of Effective Factors on the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) about COVID-۱۹ in Patients with Chronic Diseases Referred to Teaching Hospitals in Iraq and Iran

Background: The first step in the success of disease prevention and control programs is to raise the level of knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of the people in this regard. This study aimed to investigate the factors affecting the KAP about COVID-۱۹ in patients with chronic diseases referred to clinics affiliated with teaching hospitals in Iran and Iraq. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on ۱۰۰۰ patients (Iraqi patients=۵۰۰) 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. The 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 scores of KAP in both groups were unfavorable, but the level of performance in Iranian patients was better than in Iraqi patients (p <۰.۰۵). The results of a two-way ANOVA test showed no significant relationship between KAP scores of Iranian and Iraqi patients and baseline and intervening variables (e.g., gender, marital status, education, income) (p> ۰.۰۵). The Pearson correlation coefficient test showed a significant inverse correlation between patients’ age and their knowledge and practice scores regarding COVID-۱۹ (p <۰.۰۵). Conclusion: There was an inverse correlation between patients’ age and their knowledge and practice about COVID-۱۹ so that with increasing the age of patients, their knowledge and practice scores about COVID-۱۹ decreased significantly. There was no significant relationship between baseline and intervening variables and patients’ knowledge, attitude, and practice scores.

Keywords:

Attitude , Effective Factors , Knowledge , Practice , Iran , Iraq