Table 1_Knowledge, attitude, and practice of cancer patients regarding radiotherapy and radiation protection.docx

IntroductionThis study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of cancer patients regarding radiotherapy and radiation protection.
MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2023 and January 2024, at Peking University International Hospital, and included cancer patients through convenience sampling. Demographic characteristics and KAP scores were collected through distributed questionnaires.
ResultsA total of 497 valid questionnaires were collected, with 252 (50.70%) completed by females. Of the respondents, 463 (93.16%) demonstrated awareness of the irradiation site for their treatment. Mean knowledge, attitude, and practice scores were 14.84 ± 4.99 (possible range: 0 - 28), 26.94 ± 3.63 (possible range: 8 - 40), and 25.24 ± 4.26 (possible range: 6 - 30), respectively. Correlation analyses revealed significant positive correlations between knowledge and attitude (r = 0.141, P = 0.002), as well as practice (r = 0.300, P < 0.001). Similarly, there was a correlation between attitude and practice (r = 0.279, P < 0.001). The path analysis revealed that knowledge was significantly associated with attitude (β = 0.142, P < 0.001) and practice (β = 0.202, P < 0.001). Similarly, attitude was associated with practice (β = 0.310, P < 0.001).
ConclusionCancer patients exhibited inadequate knowledge, moderate attitudes and proactive practices towards radiotherapy and radiation protection. The positive correlations between knowledge and various factors, such as radiotherapy awareness, ionizing radiation understanding, and patient comprehensive scores, underscore the integral role of patient education in enhancing their approach to radiotherapy and radiation protection.

引言 本研究旨在调查癌症患者对放射治疗（radiotherapy）与辐射防护（radiation protection）的知信行（Knowledge, Attitude and Practice，KAP）现状。
方法 本研究于2023年12月至2024年1月在北京大学国际医院开展横断面研究，采用便利抽样法纳入癌症患者，通过发放问卷收集受试者的人口学特征及知信行得分。
结果 本研究共回收有效问卷497份，其中252份（50.70%）由女性患者完成。受访患者中，463例（93.16%）知晓自身治疗的照射部位。认知、态度及实践得分均值分别为14.84±4.99（分值范围0~28）、26.94±3.63（分值范围8~40）及25.24±4.26（分值范围6~30）。相关性分析显示，认知与态度呈显著正相关（r=0.141，P=0.002），认知与实践亦呈显著正相关（r=0.300，P<0.001）；同样，态度与实践呈显著正相关（r=0.279，P<0.001）。路径分析结果表明，认知与态度（β=0.142，P<0.001）及实践（β=0.202，P<0.001）均存在显著关联；同理，态度与实践亦存在显著关联（β=0.310，P<0.001）。
结论 癌症患者对放射治疗与辐射防护的认知水平有待提升，态度较为中立，实践行为较为积极。认知与放疗知晓情况、电离辐射（ionizing radiation）认知及患者综合得分等多项因素呈显著正相关，这凸显了患者教育在优化患者放射治疗及辐射防护认知行为中的核心作用。