Healthcare Practitioners’ Knowledge of Lymphedema

Table 2

Key concepts of questionnaire, knowledge results, and its related factors.

Author	Assessment tool	Knowledge key concepts^⸸	Knowledge results	Knowledge related factors
Noble-Jones et al. [21]	Self-reported	A: male and female anatomy; B: surgical risk factors; C: self-report tools, assessment and evaluation, clinical reasoning; D: MLD and SLD, skin care, bandaging and taping, compression and pneumatic pumps, electrotherapy, exercise, factors affecting therapy; E: legal, cultural, and ethical considerations	Averaged knowledge; (i) 1.88 out of 3 (without genital lymphedema education: 1.74, with education: 2.02); (ii) Self-reported knowledge on treatment techniques > theoretical background	Experience, previous education
Omar et al., 2021 [22]	Self-reported	NA	Averaged knowledge; (i) Excellent or very good: 83%, good, average or normal: 17%; (ii) Need for further education: 78%	NA
Dellar et al., 2021 [23]	Measured	A: etiology; B: preventable, preventive measures; D: curable, skin, and foot care	Averaged knowledge; (i) Knowledge improvement after education (10 ➔ 14 out of 17)	NA
Churko et al. [24]	Measured	A: etiology; B: preventive measures, risk factors; C: signs and symptoms; D: general care	Averaged knowledge; (ii) Poor knowledge (): 23.1%, good knowledge (): 76.9%	Sex, lymphedema education, profession, service years, health facility location, attitude
Pereira Rios Gerez et al. [25]	Self-reported	A: definition; B: preventive measures, at-risk groups; C: symptoms, timing of appearance, diagnostic skills; D: curable, general care, timing of management, bandaging	Averaged knowledge; (i) Self-reported knowledge on definition > symptoms > at-risk population	NA
Bayisenge et al. [26]	Measured	A: etiology; B: at-risk groups, preventive measures; C: signs and symptoms; D: curable	Low knowledge; (i) Mean overall knowledge: 58.5%; (ii) Knowledge score: CHW (59%) > environmental officers (58%) > physician and nurses/midwives (55%)	Profession, education level, work experience, number of cases treated per month
Abu Sharour [27]	Measured	A: definition, anatomy, pathophysiology; B: preventive measures, risk factors, patient education; C: assessment and examination; D: follow-up appointment	Low knowledge; (i) Knowledge score failed (<15): 60%, acceptable (15–20): 25%, good (21–25): 9%, excellent (26–30): 5%	Academic qualification, years of experience
Tsuchiya et al. [28]	Self-reported	B: risk factors; C: signs and symptoms, early visits; D: diet, MLD, weight control, exercise, skin, and wound care	Averaged knowledge; (i) Mean overall knowledge: 17.03 (range: 0-26); (ii) Good knowledge on prevention and early signs detection	NA
Mete Civelek et al. [29]	Measured and self-reported	NA	Averaged knowledge; (i) Median overall knowledge: 15 (median 25%-75%: 11-18); (ii) Self-reported: very good (1.3%), good (15.3%), middle (64.7%), bad (17.7%), very bad (1.0%)	Gender, years of practice, family physician speciality, lymphedema education, very good and good self-reported knowledge, close relative/friend with BCRL, referral to physical medicine or rehabilitation specialist
Tam et al. [30]	Measured	A: anatomy; B: risk factors, preventive measures (familiar with national guideline); C: incidence, symptoms; D: curable, exercise, CDT	Averaged knowledge; (i) Mean overall knowledge: 9.57 (range: 3-14); (ii) Knowledge score: oncologist (10.66) > surgeon (10.4) > primary care (9.41)	Gender, clinical speciality, years of practice, practice care units, physician or nurse, lymphedema education in the past year, BCRL referral
Ryan et al. [31]	Measured and self-reported	A: anatomy, general function, etiology; B: risk factors, at-risk groups, patient education; C: incidence, symptoms, diagnostic criteria, bioelectrical impendence; D: nursing intervention, patient education, deep breathing, exercise, compression therapy, CDT, skin care; E: cellulitis	Averaged knowledge; (i) Self-reported knowledge on risk reduction > self-management > treatment; (ii) Questionnaire knowledge: of lymphatic system (14%), and risk factors (88.7%)	Competence in risk reduction and self-management and treatment, work setting
Yakob et al. [32]	Measured	A: etiology; B: preventive measures; C: signs and symptoms (general and early)	Averaged knowledge; (i) Median overall knowledge: 22 of 39 (low: 54.3% below 22)	Public practice, favorable attitudes
Mathews et al. [33]	Self-reported	A: definition (no serious condition), etiology; B: preventable, risk factors; C: prevalence, symptoms; D: curable, general care, refer to proper specialities; E: psychosocial difficulties (stigmata, daily activities)	Averaged knowledge; (i) Change in 7 of 8 knowledge scores	NA
Morgan et al. [34]	Self-reported and interview	A: edema, etiology; B: risk factors; C: patient’s history, measurement; D: general care, MLD, compression therapy, skin care; E: AIE, lymphorrhoea, impact on patients	Low knowledge; (i) Adequate knowledge: skin care	NA
Rath et al. [35]	Interview	D: curable, home remedies, massage, exercise, bandaging, skin care (wound and foot care); E: acute ADL episodes	Low knowledge; (i) Excellent and adequate knowledge: ADL episodes and wound care	NA
Logan et al. [36]	Measured	B: risk factors, preventive measures; C: early detection and referral; D: curable, limitation of diuretics; E: psychosocial difficulties (body image)	Low knowledge; (i) Adequate knowledge: limitation of diuretics, body image difficulties, risk factor	Experience, profession

⸸ A: lymphatic system; B: prevention; C: diagnosis; D: management; E: complications. value < 0.05, value < 0.01, value < 0.001. CHW: community health workers; MLD: manual lymphatic drainage; NA: not available; CDT: complete decongestive therapy; BCRL: breast cancer-related lymphedema; ADL: adenolymphangitis.