Assessment of nurses' knowledge and awareness of acromegaly in a high-volume tertiary center: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Acromegaly is a rare endocrine disorder characterized by delayed diagnosis and substantial multisystem morbidity. Nurses play an important role in early recognition and multidisciplinary management of the disease; however, evidence regarding their knowledge of acromegaly is limited. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and awareness of nurses regarding acromegaly and to identify factors associated with knowledge level.

METHODS

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2024 and March 2025 at Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Türkiye. A total of 884 nurses participated voluntarily. Data were collected using a researcher-developed, content-validated Acromegaly Experience and Knowledge Questionnaire (Cronbach's α = 0.852). Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of knowledge level.

RESULTS

The mean age of participants was 29.8 ± 6.3 years; 84.8% were female and 92.0% held a bachelor's degree. Most participants (89.8%) reported little or no previous experience with acromegaly. Knowledge levels were classified as low in 11.7%, moderate in 47.0%, and high in 41.3% of participants. In multivariable analysis, female sex was the only independent predictor of higher knowledge (OR = 1.83, 95% CI: 1.22-2.76, p = 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

Most nurses demonstrated moderate to high knowledge of acromegaly despite limited clinical experience. However, important knowledge gaps remain, highlighting the need for structured educational programs and continuing professional development to strengthen nurses' preparedness for the care of patients with rare endocrine disorders.