S704 Are We Ready for Early GI Cancer Detection? A National KAP Survey Among Healthcare Workers

Introduction: Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are among the major contributors to cancer-related mortality in India, and early screening is strongly recommended by healthcare professionals. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of Indian healthcare workers regarding early detection of gastrointestinal cancer (EGC). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among healthcare workers from 20 hospitals across India between January and April 2024. Participants voluntarily completed a self-administered questionnaire comprising 30 questions, using a 5-point Likert scale for all items. The questionnaire assessed 3 components: knowledge (10 items), attitude (8 items), and practice (12 items). Results: A total of 468 valid responses were analyzed. The healthcare workers demonstrated a moderate to high level of knowledge (mean score: 37.2 ± 6.3 out of 50; 74.4%), a positive attitude (mean score: 33.6 ± 4.8 out of 40; 84.0%), and a high level of practice (mean score: 49.2 ± 8.7 out of 60; 82.0%) toward EGC. Pearson’s correlation analysis revealed a significant positive association between knowledge and attitude scores (r = 0.251, P < 0.001), and between knowledge and practice scores (r = 0.132, P = 0.003). Attitude scores were also strongly associated with practice scores (r = 0.366, P < 0.001), as confirmed by structural equation modeling. Subgroup analysis indicated that knowledge scores were significantly influenced by gender, age, education level, hospital type, professional role, designation, and years of service (all P < 0.05). Attitude scores were influenced by years of experience (P < 0.05), while practice scores varied significantly across gender, department, and years of service (all P < 0.05). Conclusion: Indian healthcare workers showed reasonably good knowledge, positive attitudes, and strong practices related to early gastrointestinal cancer screening. A higher level of knowledge and more positive attitudes were significantly associated with better practices. Sociodemographic characteristics influenced KAP levels, indicating the need for targeted training and sensitization initiatives.