Abstract

Polycystic ovarian syndrome: A KAP study among pharmacy and engineering students in a private college, Telangana state, India

Author(s): Dr. Abdul Nazer Ali, Konkati Druthika, Odhala Nikitha, Annepogu Sandhya and Koukuntla Ujwala

Background: polycystic ovarian syndrome is a chronic health condition, which has no cure that is largely neglected by females. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome [PCOS] is a common disorder, often complicated by chronic an ovulatory infertility and hyperandrogenism with the clinical manifestation of oligomenorrhoea, hirsutism and acne. The management of the condition and the avoidance of complications both heavily depend on having the sufficient knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP). The objective was to estimate the level of KAP level among engineering and pharmacy students.

Aims and objectives: General objectives: to assess the KAP levels among private college students towards PCOS. specific objectives: develop and validate the PCOS survey questionnaires; evaluate the differences in KAP among demographic characteristics and assess the differences in KAP level among pharmacy and engineering students.

Methods: A cross sectional- prospective study among included 418 female undergraduate students from pharmacy and engineering aged between 18 years and 25 years, who were asked to fill a PCOS questionnaire which was tested for content validation, face validation and reliability using Cronbach’s reliability coefficient. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 23. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests.

Results: among 418 respondents, the TKS was found to be poor (75.8%) with a median [MDN (IQR)] score of 8 (7), whereas the TAS was found to have neutral results (59%) with a median(IQR) score of 42 (8), and poor practice scores (45.9%) with a median (IQR) score of 6 (4), and the table also demonstrates the total KAP score to be moderate (51.4) and with a very low percentage of good (2.6%) with the median(IQR) score of 55 (11). the study reported a significant association (p<0.01) between TKAPS, TKS, TAS, and TPS. for knowledge-based questions, Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was found to be 0.939; for attitude -based questions, it was 0.998; and for practicebased questions, it was found to be 0.999. this signifies excellent reliability and internal consistency.

Conclusion: This study shows that respondent’s knowledge, attitudes, and practice scores relation to polycystic ovarian syndrome are moderate. Most respondents had a limited understanding of the complications, diagnosis, and risk factors related to this life- long disorder. This study made it evident that health education and awareness regarding PCOS among pharmacy and engineering students need to be improved, to prevent delay in diagnosis and therapy.


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