Abstract 4147628: A Mixed Methods Analysis of Patient Knowledge in Peripheral Artery Disease

Introduction: Patient knowledge of lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD) is low compared to other cardiovascular diseases. Research Questions/Hypothesis: We hypothesize that demographic and socioeconomic factors impact patient knowledge of PAD. Goals/Aims: To obtain qualitative description of and identify factors associated with patient knowledge of PAD. Methods/Approach: We performed a convergent parallel mixed methods study of participants with an established PAD diagnosis. Participants completed an 87-item survey assessing demographics, awareness of PAD diagnosis, and PAD knowledge. Functional health literacy (FHL) was measured using the short Test of Functional Health Literacy Assessment. Multivariable linear regression was used to identify factors associated with PAD knowledge scores. Semi-structured interviews were used to describe understanding of PAD. Transcripts were analyzed with inductive and deductive coding, and a constant comparative approach was used to identify themes. Results/Data: There were 91 participants (77.2% response rate, 49.5% female, 29.7% Black, mean age 68.6 years). Most participants (51.7%) had chronic limb-threatening ischemia and 17.6% had a previous major amputation. While 21.3% had poor FHL and 24.4% were unaware of their PAD diagnosis, the average knowledge score was 79.1%. On bivariate analysis, non-White race, non-ambulatory status, poor FHL, lack of awareness of PAD diagnosis, and not knowing the chronicity of diagnosis were inversely associated with knowledge score. Multivariate linear regression showed that poor FHL, non-White race, and not knowing the chronicity of PAD diagnosis were independently associated with low PAD knowledge. Qualitative analysis of 22 participants revealed that patients have difficulty understanding the name “PAD”, confuse PAD with other comorbidities, and have incorrect beliefs about PAD despite high knowledge scores. Conclusions: Knowledge of PAD is associated with health literacy. However, patients have incorrect beliefs and difficulty understanding the terminology associated with PAD despite a high average knowledge score. Knowledge scores may not adequately reflect understanding. Future research will focus on optimizing patient education, identifying strategies to appropriately gauge patient understanding, and understanding the association between knowledge and behavior in PAD.