ABSTRACT
Introduction: As parents or legal guardians primarily care for children with asthma, understanding their knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) barriers to treatment and medication adherence is of essential importance. This study aimed to analyze the KAP toward asthma medication and adherence among preschool-aged asthmatic children's parents and explore the factors influencing adherence. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between February 2023 and April 2023. Parents of preschool children with asthma were asked to complete the questionnaire containing knowledge, attitude, practice dimensions, and demographic characteristics. The Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS) was used to investigate adherence. Results: A total of 632 valid questionnaires (154 male and 478 female) were included. Parents showed moderate knowledge (9.49 ± 2.86, 63.27%, possible range: 0-15) and moderate attitudes (26.18 ± 2.51, 74.80%, possible range: 7-35) towards asthma medication, while their practices (27.46 ± 5.26, 91.53%, possible range: 6-30) were proactive; however, medication adherence was low (4.84 ± 1.78, total score: 8). The attitude scores (OR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.01-1.19, P=0.020), practice scores (OR = 1.16, 95%CI: 1.12-1.21, p < 0.001), and smoking (OR = 1.64, 95%CI: 1.14-2.37, p = 0.008) were associated with medication adherence. Discussion: Preschool-aged asthmatic children's parents showed moderate knowledge, attitudes, and proactive practice toward asthma medication. Continuous training and education programs should be provided for parents to improve asthma medication management in preschool children.
ABSTRACT
The estimation of prevalence and genotype distribution of high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) is important in formulating strategies for the prevention and screening of cervical cancer. This study aimed to determine HR-HPV prevalence and genotype distribution among Chinese women living in Sichuan Province. A total of 3,089 women were recruited from the Third People's Hospital of Chengdu in Sichuan Province. HR-HPV genotyping was assessed using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Up to 720 women (23.3%) were HR-HPV positive. A total of 81.1% (584/720) of women had a single HR-HPV genotype, and 18.9% (136/720) had multiple genotypes. The most frequently detected HPV genotype was HPV52, followed by HPV58, HPV16, and HPV51. Age subgroup analysis showed 2 peaks for the frequencies of HPV infections, one for the group of women under 29 years old, and the other for the group of women over 50 years old. Among the women for whom cytology results were available, HPV16 was the most commonly detected genotype among women affected with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (32.5%) and squamous cell carcinoma, followed by HPV58, HPV33, and HPV52. This is one of the largest studies to demonstrate HPV prevalence and genotype distribution among Chinese women in Sichuan. The prevalence and genotype distribution of HR-HPV was unique with higher frequencies of HPV52 and HPV58.
