Effectiveness of educational interventions in improving the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions among patients with metabolic syndrome at a tertiary care hospital setting in Palakkad district, India

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a group of metabolic abnormalities that significantly worsen several medical conditions, making it a major global health concern. Hence, a study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions (KAP) of MetS, estimate cardiovascular risk scores, and provide educational interventions among patients with MetS. An interventional study was conducted among patients aged 18 years and above, diagnosed with MetS, and living in Palakkad, Kerala. A structured, validated questionnaire with 35 items was used to collect data. The intervention was provided face-to-face and online for one month, educating the patients on MetS. Majority of the patients were female (56%), with a mean age of 54.63 ± 10.1 years, and were obese (49%). At baseline, both the control (Median IQR = 9.5, p = 0.367) and intervention (Median IQR = 13.0, p = 0.001) group participants exhibited limited knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions toward MetS. Their 10-year cardiovascular risk assessed by Framingham Risk Score (FRS) showed that over half of the study participants in the control group (n = 34; 68%) and intervention group (n = 32; 64%) were at high risk (FRS > 20%). The educational intervention provided to the patients led to a statistically significant change in knowledge (Z=-6.5631, p < 0.001), attitudes (Z=-2.925, p < 0.001), and perceptions (Z=-4.693, p < 0.001) among the patients with MetS. Patients in this study exhibited limited knowledge and negative attitudes towards MetS. The educational intervention provided to these patients was effective in improving KAP; hence, patient education should be encouraged at both hospital and community levels.