KAP survey on integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine for ischemic stroke among healthcare workers in Zhengzhou City: A cross-sectional study based on multi-tiered healthcare institutions

This cross-sectional study (n = 517) assessed healthcare workers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine (TCM-WM) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) across 12 multi-tiered institutions in Zhengzhou. Using validated questionnaires and multivariate logistic regression, we identified tertiary hospital staff, integrated TCM-WM practitioners, and senior professionals as KAP strongholds (odds ratio (OR) ≥ 2.7, P 15 years of experience showed 2.89 times higher practice initiative than those with <5 years ( P < .05). Among physicians, TCM majors showed significant KAP advantages (Practice OR = 5.22 vs Clinical medicine, P < .05), and male physicians exhibited higher practice initiative (OR = 1.88, P = .017). Among other medical staff (nurses/technicians), females demonstrated stronger practice initiative (OR = 2.05, P = .008), and intermediate titles were associated with more positive attitudes (OR = 2.10, P = .028). The study revealed that healthcare professionals in Zhengzhou generally possess a sound understanding of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine for AIS treatment. However, disparities were observed across healthcare institution tiers and professional specialties. It is recommended to establish a tiered training system, enhancing knowledge dissemination among community hospitals and junior staff. Treatment protocols should leverage the specialized strengths of integrated medicine to design comprehensive plans, while the practical competencies of nursing staff can be utilized to develop knowledge translation tools. Future research should validate the effectiveness of these tiered strategies through intervention trials and explore the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying a direct “knowledge-to-practice” pathway.