Background and Objective: This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of patients with ankle sprains regarding chronic ankle instability (CAI) and its management. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Shanghai from June 2024 to August 2024 among adults with a history of ankle sprain. Participants completed an electronic self-administered questionnaire assessing knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding chronic ankle instability and its management. Spearman correlation and structural equation modeling with bootstrap resampling were used to examine associations and pathways among KAP dimensions. Results: Among the participants, 289 (51.60%) were males, 288 (51.45%) reported occasional exercise, and 207 (36.95%) currently experienced ankle instability. The mean scores for knowledge, attitude, and practice were 9.87± 4.54 (possible range: 0– 16), 24.48± 2.97 (possible range: 8– 40), and 27.17± 7.67 (possible range: 9– 45), respectively. Positive correlations were found between knowledge and practice (r=0.4772, P< 0.001). The mediation analysis demonstrated that knowledge (β=0.81, P < 0.001), attitude (β = − 0.34, P < 0.001), and exercise habits (β= − 2.59, P < 0.001) directly affected practice. Conclusion: The findings suggest predominantly moderate knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward CAI, with significant room for improvement, highlighting the need for educational interventions to enhance prevention, rehabilitation adherence, and long-term management. Keywords: rehabilitation, functional assessment, prevention, patient education, questionnaire survey
Wang et al. (Sun,) studied this question.