Knowledge, attitude and practice regarding anterior cruciate ligament injuries among the youth

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) concerning anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries among the youth. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Hospital of Chengdu University of TCM between January 2024 and March 2024, and included the youth aged from 18 to 39 years old. Demographic characteristics and KAP scores were collected via self-administered questionnaires. Results: A total of 561 valid questionnaires were analyzed. Of these, 292 respondents (52.05 %) were female, and 317 (56.51 %) had experienced ACL injuries or other related sports injuries. The mean scores for knowledge, attitudes, and practices were 19.99 +/- 9.28 (possible range: 0-24), 30.34 +/- 7.83 (possible range: 9-45), and 25.48 +/- 7.40 (possible range: 7-35), respectively. Correlation analyses revealed significant positive correlations between knowledge and attitude (r = 0.506, P < 0.001), knowledge and practice (r = 0.612, P < 0.001), and attitude and practice (r = 0.546, P < 0.001). Structural equation modeling (SEM) indicated direct effects of knowledge on both attitude (beta = 1.235, P < 0.001) and practice (beta = 0.817, P < 0.001), as well as of attitude on practice (beta = 0.490, P < 0.001). Conclusion: The youth demonstrated adequate knowledge but moderate attitudes and practices regarding ACL injuries. Educational interventions targeting psychological factors, attitudes, and the translation of knowledge into consistent preventive behaviors are essential to mitigate injury risks and improve management outcomes among the youth.