Knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward postoperative rehabilitation among females with rotator cuff injury: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE

Rotator cuff injuries are common shoulder disorders, particularly affecting middle-aged and older women, and postoperative rehabilitation plays a vital role in restoring function and preventing recurrence. To investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to postoperative rehabilitation among female patients who had undergone rotator cuff repair surgery.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted between January and July 2024 at two orthopedic centers in Chengdu, China, using convenience sampling. Demographic data and KAP scores were collected using a validated self-administered questionnaire (Cronbach's α = 0.851). The primary outcome measures were knowledge, attitude, and practice scores, assessed using a validated KAP questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, group comparisons via t-tests or ANOVA, Spearman correlation analysis, and structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine the relationships between knowledge, attitudes, and practices.

RESULTS

A total of 499 female participants who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled with a response rate of 99.60%. Among the participants (mean age: 59.8 ± 7.2 years), the mean scores for knowledge, attitude, and practice were 14.59 ± 4.24, 35.17 ± 5.70, and 27.91 ± 4.71, respectively. Knowledge demonstrated positive correlations with practice (rs = 0.106, p = 0.018), while attitude showed strong correlation with practice (rs = 0.572, p < 0.001). SEM analysis showed that practice was directly influenced by knowledge (β = 0.084, 95% CI: 0.013-0.155, p = 0.021), attitude (β = 0.514, 95% CI: 0.441-0.587, p < 0.001), surgery (β = -0.170, 95% CI: -0.301 to -0.039, p = 0.011), training (β = -0.125, 95% CI: -0.207 to -0.044, p = 0.002), and therapy (β = -0.129, 95% CI: -0.212 to -0.046, p = 0.002). Additionally, income (β = 0.035, p = 0.010) had indirect effect on attitude. Knowledge (β = 0.067, p = 0.005), exercise (β = 0.097, p < 0.001), and therapy (β = -0.113, p < 0.001) had indirect effects on practice.

CONCLUSION

Females with rotator cuff injuries demonstrated adequate knowledge and positive attitudes but exhibited suboptimal practices towards postoperative rehabilitation. These findings suggest the need for targeted interventions to bridge the gap between knowledge and practice, with particular focus on enhancing positive attitudes, which were the strongest predictors of rehabilitation adherence. Healthcare providers should consider implementing comprehensive educational programs that address both knowledge transfer and behavioral change strategies to improve patient outcomes.