Knowledge, attitudes, and practice patterns among healthcare providers in the prevention of recurrent kidney stones in Sudan: a cross-sectional study

Kidney stone disease is common and associated with high recurrence rates, leading to repeated interventions and increased healthcare burden. Although effective preventive strategies exist, their implementation in clinical practice remains suboptimal. In Sudan, healthcare providers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding recurrent kidney stone prevention have not been evaluated. This study aimed to assess these factors among healthcare providers managing recurrent kidney stones in Sudan. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from October to December 2025 among licensed healthcare providers involved in kidney stone management in Sudan. A total of 405 participants were recruited using convenience sampling. Data were collected through a previously published 31-item structured questionnaire assessing knowledge, attitudes, and practice patterns regarding recurrent kidney stone prevention. Descriptive statistics were performed using IBM SPSS version 27. A total of 405 healthcare providers participated, most aged 25–34 years (84.7%) and with less than five years of practice (83.7%). More than half (56.3%) reported no formal training in kidney stone prevention. Knowledge gaps were evident, as only 45.2% correctly identified urinary citrate as the main inhibitor of stone formation. Attitudes toward evidence-based strategies were mixed, with 33.6% strongly disagreeing that normal calcium intake prevents stones and 41.0% disagreeing with increasing fluid intake for at-risk patients. Clinical practices were inconsistent; 34.1% recommended 2–3 L/day of fluids, 30.6% advised restricting calcium, and only 30.9% routinely performed stone analysis for every retrieved stone. Major reported barriers included lack of patient education materials (55.3%), medication costs (44.7%), and patient non-adherence (44.2%). Substantial gaps exist in knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding recurrent kidney stone prevention among healthcare providers in Sudan, particularly in recognizing the protective role of urinary citrate and the importance of maintaining normal dietary calcium intake. Strengthening continuing medical education, guideline dissemination, and access to preventive resources is essential to improve evidence-based care in resource-limited settings.