Patients with lung cancer showed persistent gaps in VTE-related knowledge, generally favorable responses to several attitude items, and heterogeneous self-reported preventive behaviors, with rural or suburban residence and no previous VTE education associated with lower knowledge.
Patients with lung cancer had mean KAP scores of 8.98 for knowledge, 31.18 for attitude, and 19.19 for practice regarding VTE prevention.
Rural or suburban residence was independently associated with lower odds of meeting the knowledge threshold.
Having no previous VTE education was independently associated with lower odds of meeting the knowledge threshold.
Higher knowledge scores were associated with more favorable attitudes and higher self-reported preventive practice scores.
Higher attitude scores were associated with higher self-reported preventive practice scores.
Patients showed persistent knowledge gaps, generally favorable attitudes on several items, and heterogeneous self-reported preventive behaviors.
Patients with lung cancer are at high risk of dangerous blood clots in the veins (venous thromboembolism, or VTE). This study surveyed 244 patients with lung cancer at one hospital in China about what they know, how they feel, and what they do to prevent these clots. The survey found notable gaps in knowledge about VTE. Attitudes toward prevention were generally favorable on several questions, but self-reported preventive behaviors varied widely between patients. Patients living in rural or suburban areas, and those who had never received education about VTE, were less likely to reach the knowledge threshold the researchers set. Patients with more knowledge tended to have better attitudes and report more preventive behaviors, and better attitudes were also linked to more preventive behaviors. This research suggests that patient education about VTE could be a useful target, especially for rural or suburban patients and those who have not been educated before. Because this was a single-hospital survey at one point in time and relied on self-reported behavior, it shows associations but cannot prove that education changes behavior or prevents clots.
Ding Y, Meng Y, Xu P, Zhang J, Wu Q. (2026). Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding venous thromboembolism prevention in patients with lung cancer.. Frontiers in public health. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1980978