A Survey of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices to Assess the Quality of Life of Patients who Underwent Kidney Stone Removal

Kidney stone disease (nephrolithiasis) is a worldwide health problem affecting millions of patients and is manifested by excruciating pain, urinary tract infections, and possible renal damage. While stone removal interventions that include extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, ureteroscopy, and percutaneous nephrolithotomy have been well-established, oftentimes, the QoL aspects of these surgical types of intervention have not been well described. The study determined the KAP of patients undergoing treatment for kidney stones and their effects on QoL. A cross-sectional survey with structured questionnaires was conducted with 300 participants, aged 18 to 65 years, from Iraq who had undergone kidney stone removal within a year. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire consisting of sections on demographic characteristics, KAP of kidney stones, attitude toward management, diet, and hydration practice, and QoL measured with the SF-36 Health Survey. There was a considerable difference between KAP in which some patients exhibited a good level of knowledge in other aspects about risk factors and prevention but remained unaware of treatment options; other patients had the opposite profile. The attitude toward lifestyle changes was mixed, with some being amenable to adopting healthier practices and others being obstinate. In many cases, dietary and hydration practices were found to be suboptimal, which calls for the need for further education and support. According to the QoL, physical health showed better ratings than mental health, stressing the psychological suffering inflicted by kidney stone disease. KAP scores and the QOL domains presented a strong positive correlation, drawing emphasis on the necessity of improving their knowledge and practices to enhance their overall well-being. These findings highlight the need for holistic, patient-centered care that includes educational intervention, behavioral support, and psychological counseling aimed at addressing the various challenges faced by kidney stone patients. This information becomes invaluable to the healthcare providers to be able to optimize post-treatment strategies for this group to enhance long-term outcomes